Almost daily, we hear of natural disasters
wreaking havoc around the globe. Terrifying footage of such destruction is
replayed over and over on TV and on the Internet. When we are bombarded with
images of real people and real places being destroyed, it is easy to view the end
of the world as an actual threat and not just the stuff of movies.
Fueling such fears, scientists theorize about
how the earth might end. Some even predict what might be called earth’s
expiration date. In March 2008, the Monthly Notices of
the Royal Astronomical Society reported that a pair
of astronomers forecast that in approximately 7.59 billion years, the sun
will engulf and vaporize our planet.
Will the earth really expire someday?
Does Our Planet
Have an Expiration Date?
The Bible assures us: “Generations come and
generations go, but the earth remains
forever.” (Ecclesiastes 1:4, New International Version)
Jehovah God securely “founded the earth upon its established places” and
designed it to last “to time indefinite, or forever.” (Psalm 104:5) Do these
inspired words of God sound too good to be true? Why should you believe that
our earth will not expire, when some scientists claim otherwise?
Well, think for a moment about products on
the shelf at a store. Some are labeled with an expiration date. Who set that
date? Was it just an educated guess by the store manager? Of course not! The
manufacturer determined the expiration date. We trust that date because the
manufacturer knows his products better than anyone else. How much more so
should we trust the Maker of our planet! His Word clearly states that he “solidly
fixed the earth” to last forever. There is no expiration date—ever!—Psalm
119:90.
Is it possible, though, that irresponsible
humans might spoil the planet beyond recovery? Absolutely not! Unlike human
manufacturers, Jehovah is “able to do all things.” (Job 42:2) That is why he
can confidently guarantee: “My word that goes forth from my mouth will . . .
have certain success.” (Isaiah 55:11) We can be sure that “our Maker” will not
allow anything to stop him from carrying out his purpose for the earth. (Psalm
95:6) What is that purpose, and how will God fulfill it?
God’s Kingdom Will
Carry Out His Purpose
In addition to guaranteeing that the earth
will never expire, God’s Word also tells us that he “formed it even to be
inhabited.” (Isaiah 45:18) Although our earth has been inhabited for thousands
of years, that in itself has not fulfilled God’s purpose.
Jehovah is a “happy God” and “a lover of
justice.” (1 Timothy 1:11; Psalm 37:28) His purpose is for all humans to
live happily and free from injustice. In order to carry out his purpose, God
foretold that he would set up one Kingdom in the heavens that will rule over
the entire earth. (Daniel 2:44) While on earth, Jesus regularly spoke about God’s
Kingdom government. He encouraged his disciples to pray for it because he knew
of all the blessings that were in store for the earth under the reign of that
Kingdom. (Matthew 6:9, 10; 24:14) What are some of those blessings?
▪
Peace and security will prevail because
God promises to end all wars.—Psalm 46:9.
▪
There will be ample food for all.—Psalm
72:16.
▪
Health care will not be an issue
because “no resident will say: ‘I am
sick.’”—Isaiah 33:24.
▪
Grieving will not be necessary, for “death
will be no more.”—Revelation 21:4.
▪
God promises that his people will build
their own houses, live in security, and
“be joyful forever.”—Isaiah 65:17-24.
No doubt you long to enjoy conditions like
those outlined above. Jehovah has a fiery zeal—a burning desire—to carry out
all that he has foretold. (Isaiah 9:6, 7) Yet, you may wonder: ‘It has
been thousands of years since God’s promises were recorded in the Bible. Why
have they not yet been fulfilled?’
God’s Patience Leads
to Our Salvation
Rest assured that “Jehovah is not slow
respecting his promise.” The Bible explains that God has been lovingly
demonstrating patience with us. Thus, we are encouraged to “consider the
patience of our Lord as salvation.” (2 Peter 3:9, 15) But why has God’s
patience been necessary for salvation?
First of all, God knows that before he can
provide righteous humans with a secure and prosperous home, he will have to “bring
to ruin those ruining the earth.” (Revelation 11:18) However, because he loves
humans, Jehovah “does not desire any to be destroyed.” Consequently, our
heavenly Father has been patiently trying “to warn the wicked one from his
wicked way.” To that end, Jehovah is having the message about his Kingdom
preached worldwide. (Ezekiel 3:17, 18) All who respond favorably to God’s
warning and bring their life into harmony with his righteous principles will be
granted salvation and enjoy everlasting life on a paradise earth.
Turn to God
and Be Saved
For a certainty, the Bible has “good news”
for us. (Matthew 24:14) It gives us God’s unfailing word that our earth will
never come to an end! Moreover, according to Bible prophecies, we can have
faith that “just a little while longer, and the wicked one will be no more.”
Soon, only those righteous in God’s eyes “will possess the earth, and they will
indeed find their exquisite delight in the abundance of peace.” (Psalm 37:9-11,
29; Matthew 5:5; Revelation 21:3, 4) Until then, God will continue to call
out patiently: “Turn to me and be saved, all you at the ends of the earth.”
(Isaiah 45:22) How will you respond?
Why not make it your determination to turn to
God? Psalm 37:34 exhorts us: “Hope in Jehovah and keep his way, and he will
exalt you to take possession of the earth.” Jehovah’s Witnesses will be happy
to assist you in learning more about God’s eternal purpose for the earth and
how you can live to see that purpose become a reality.
[Footnote]
In obedience to Jesus’ command at Matthew
28:19, 20, over seven million of Jehovah’s Witnesses in 236 lands spend about
one and a half billion hours each year teaching people about God’s grand
purpose for this earth.
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