Lesson 25 What Is God’s Purpose for Us?
[Image:] The earth as seen from space.
[Press play to hear the MP3 of the Lesson]
The Bible acknowledges that for humans, life is ‘short and filled with trouble.’ (Job 14:1)
[Quotation] Job 14:1: “Man, born of woman, Is short-lived and filled with trouble. [End Quotation]
Is this really what God wants for us? If not, what is his purpose for us? Will it ever be fulfilled? Consider the Bible’s comforting answers.
1. What kind of life does Jehovah want for us?
Jehovah wants us to have the best life possible. When he created the first humans, Adam and Eve, he placed them in a beautiful paradise, the garden of Eden. Then “God blessed them, and God said to them: ‘Be fruitful and become many, fill the earth and subdue it.’” (Genesis 1:28)
[Quotation] Genesis 1:28: Further, God blessed them, and God said to them: “Be fruitful and become many, fill the earth and subdue it, and have in subjection the fish of the sea and the flying creatures of the heavens and every living creature that is moving on the earth.” [End Quotation]
Jehovah wanted them to have children, to make the whole earth a paradise, and to take care of the animals. His purpose was for all people to enjoy perfect health and live forever. Although things did not work out that way, * God’s purpose has not changed.
[Quotation] Isaiah 46:10 and 11: From the beginning I foretell the outcome, And from long ago the things that have not yet been done. I say, ‘My decision will stand, And I will do whatever I please.’ I am calling a bird of prey from the sunrise, From a distant land the man to carry out my decision. I have spoken, and I will bring it about. I have purposed it, and I will also carry it out. [End Quotation]
He still wants obedient humans to live forever in perfect conditions. Read Revelation 21:3 and 4.
[Footnote] * In the next lesson, you will learn what went wrong. [End of footnote]
[Read scripture] Revelation 21:3 and 4: With that I heard a loud voice from the throne say: “Look! The tent of God is with mankind, and he will reside with them, and they will be his people. And God himself will be with them. And he will wipe out every tear from their eyes, and death will be no more, neither will mourning nor outcry nor pain be anymore. The former things have passed away.” [End of Read scripture]
2. How can we enjoy a meaningful life now?
Jehovah created us with a “spiritual need,” that is, a desire to know and worship him. (Read Matthew 5:3 through 6) He wants us to have a close friendship with him, “to walk in all his ways, to love him,” and to serve him “with all [our] heart.” (Deuteronomy 10:12)
[Quotation] Deuteronomy 10:12: “Now, O Israel, what is Jehovah your God asking of you? Only this: to fear Jehovah your God, to walk in all his ways, to love him, to serve Jehovah your God with all your heart and all your soul, [End Quotation]
[Quotation] Psalms 25:14: Close friendship with Jehovah belongs to those who fear him, And he makes his covenant known to them. [End Quotation]
When we do so, we can be truly happy even though we have problems. Worshipping Jehovah gives our life real meaning and a sense of purpose.
[Read scripture] Matthew 5:3 through 6: “Happy are those conscious of their spiritual need, since the Kingdom of the heavens belongs to them. “Happy are those who mourn, since they will be comforted. “Happy are the mild-tempered, since they will inherit the earth. “Happy are those hungering and thirsting for righteousness, since they will be filled. [End of Read scripture]
Dig Deeper
Learn about the great love Jehovah showed when preparing the earth for us and what his Word teaches about the purpose of life.
3. Jehovah has a wonderful purpose for humans
Play the video Why Did God Create the Earth? Excerpt (1:41), and then discuss the question that follows.
[Disclaimer: The following video is created by Watchtower Bible and Tract Society; however, the audio description has been added by independent blind and sighted volunteers to assist those who are blind or have low vision]
[Click for Transcript]|[Why Did God Create the Earth?]
[Text: Why Did God Create the Earth? A couple admires a bee pollinating a cherry blossom tree]
Presenter: Our world is filled with breath-taking beauty. Why did God create the earth in such a special way? Even from space, it stands alone as wonderfully unique.
[A blue and green globe rotates in space]
God created the earth with an abundance of water.
[Text: 70% H2O]
He placed it at just the right distance from the sun
[A measuring line shows 93 million miles]
and set its rotation at just the right speed.
[A gauge reads 1037 mph / 1670 kph]
He gave it a moon to stabilize the earth’s tilt, contributing to consistent seasons.
[23.5 degrees]
And he created an amazing variety of living creatures to share the earth with.
[A whale, jellyfish, sea turtles]
Why did God put forth so much effort to create this beautiful earth?
[A panda, tiger, peacock]
Because he wanted to give the first human couple, Adam and Eve, a wonderful home. As long as they obeyed God, they and their children would live forever and expand the Paradise Garden to cover the entire globe.
[A glistening wilderness in mountains]
This was God’s purpose for the earth.
(Logo: Black capital letters JW.ORG inside a white box. Copyright 2017 Watchtower Bible and Tract Society of Pennsylvania) [Click to close]
Why did God create our beautiful planet?
Read Ecclesiastes 3:11, and then discuss the question that follows:
[Read scripture] Ecclesiastes 3:11: He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has even put eternity in their heart; yet mankind will never find out the work that the true God has made from start to finish. [End of Read scripture]
What does this teach you about Jehovah?
[Image:] Adam and Eve looking at their beautiful garden home filled with lush vegetation and animals.
4. Jehovah’s purpose has not changed
Read Psalm 37:11, 29 and Isaiah 55:11, and then discuss the question that follows:
[Read scripture] Psalm 37:11: But the meek will possess the earth, And they will find exquisite delight in the abundance of peace. [End of Read scripture]
[Read scripture] Psalm 37:29: The righteous will possess the earth, And they will live forever on it. [End of Read scripture]
[Read scripture] Isaiah 55:11: So my word that goes out of my mouth will be. It will not return to me without results, But it will certainly accomplish whatever is my delight, And it will have sure success in what I send it to do. [End of Read scripture]
How do we know that Jehovah’s purpose for us has not changed?
[Image:] A house in disrepair. The roof is falling apart, the windows are broken, and the yard is littered with trash. Caption: A house that has fallen into disrepair can be restored. Likewise, the earth, which humans in general have neglected, will be restored by God for those who love him [Image:] The same house, now restored, is beautiful and neatly landscaped.
5. Worshipping Jehovah gives our life real meaning
Knowing the purpose of life can bring us happiness. Play the video I Learned the Purpose of Life (5:03), and then discuss the question that follows.
[Disclaimer: The following video is created by Watchtower Bible and Tract Society; however, the audio description has been added by independent blind and sighted volunteers to assist those who are blind or have low vision]
[Click for Transcript]|[I Learned the Purpose of Life]
[Terumi walks alone on a road lined with cherry blossom trees]
Terumi: A road for racing, bicycle racing against my rivals down a road; a road I travelled just for myself. That was my life course. I started road bicycle racing when I was a university student.
[Photos of her racing]
I won practically every race in Japan. I won the Japan National Championship twice and even participated in the Asian Games and the 1988 Seoul Olympics. Of course, I was always happy when I won. But that happiness didn’t last very long. Every time I won a race, I would be expected to win the next one, and I was overwhelmed with tremendous pressure. That frightened me. So, I immersed myself in training.
[Bicycle wheel spins]
Train, race, train, race, I was racing down a road with no end in sight.
[She walks alone on an empty beach]
After the Seoul Olympics, I was devoted to practice.
[Three cyclists speed past]
It was then that my younger sister Rie, who had become one of Jehovah’s Witnesses, gave me the Happiness book. I really agreed with what that book said. In 1989, I started to study the Bible seriously.
[She walks through a forest]
Even so, I just wasn’t able to believe in the existence of a Creator. So, I studied the Creation book. When I read about the structure of birds’ wings, my eyes were opened.
[She reflects and nods]
I thought: ‘There is a Creator! The Creator made this!’ When I was convinced of the existence of the Creator, I was able to understand the purpose of life. It’s just as Ecclesiastes chapter 12 says; the purpose of life is to know the Creator and live for him.
[Sat reading the Bible]
I was so relieved. In 1991, I dedicated my life to Jehovah and started on the Creator’s Road.
[She smiles in photos]
The following year, I started pioneering and my sister and I moved to a congregation where the need was greater. But later, I was found to have kidney cancer. And in 2005, I had to quit pioneering after 13 wonderful years.
[Sat alone gazing at the ocean]
I was really discouraged. I could no longer do the things I had always done, and it was difficult to keep my self-respect. However, at that time, timely publications and encouragement from the elders gave me good support. So, I tried to find joy in what I could do.
[Happily, she plays fetch with a small dog]
Later, I got my strength back to some extent and I started pioneering again in 2012. I was overjoyed to attend Pioneer Service School again. Jehovah really helped me to continue on this road.
[Walks with sister, both have big smiles]
In this system, we think we have a lot of time in our lives, but in reality, we don’t. People should live thinking about what is really important in life - in the time they have. Of course, we can learn from the things we experience.
[They preach at the harbour]
But the wise course is to learn from the truth and from our relationship with our Creator. I really want young people to learn that lesson.
The road with real value is not the one we take for ourselves. It is the road we take for the Creator.
[They both laugh and chat as they walk along the road with the cherry blossom trees]
(Logo: Black capital letters JW.ORG inside a white box. Copyright 2015 Watchtower Bible and Tract Society of Pennsylvania) [Click to close]
How did Terumi benefit from learning the purpose of life?
Read Ecclesiastes 12:13, and then discuss the question that follows:
[Read scripture] Ecclesiastes 12:13: The conclusion of the matter, everything having been heard, is: Fear the true God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole obligation of man. [End of Read scripture]
Because Jehovah has done so much for us, what are we obligated to do in return?
[Box]
Someone May Ask: “What is the purpose of life?” How would you answer? [End of box]
Summary
Jehovah wants us to enjoy life forever in perfect conditions here on earth. When we worship him with all our heart, our lives have real meaning, even now.
Review
What was Jehovah’s original purpose for Adam and Eve?
How do we know that God’s purpose for humans has not changed?
How can you find real meaning in life?
Goal
Tell someone about Jehovah’s wonderful purpose for us. Set Other Goals
Explore
Consider the evidence that the garden of Eden really existed. “The Garden of Eden—Myth or Fact?” (The Watchtower, January 1, 2011)
[Click for article]|[Coming soon] [Click to close]
Learn why we can be sure that the earth will remain forever. “Will the Earth Be Destroyed?” (Web article)
[Click for article]|[Coming soon] [Click to close]
Examine what the Bible says about finding meaning in your life. “What Is the Meaning of Life?” (Web article)
[Click for article]|[Coming soon] [Click to close]
See how a man who thought he had everything found what was missing in his life. Now I Have a Life of Purpose (3:55)
[Click for transcript]|[Coming soon] [Click to close]