Have you ever paused to look back over your life, and asked yourself: “What am I doing with my life? Will what I am doing now really matter after I am gone?”
Is there a greater purpose for life? Does your life fit into a bigger picture?
What does your religion mean to you? For many in the world, religion means little more than being good, being nice to friends and neighbors and hoping to “go to heaven” when they die. They go to church when “the spirit moves them” or when they feel a need to be “more spiritual.” They often join a church to belong to a group or to be with friends. People pray when times are tough, or when they get into trouble. They may talk of “loving God,” but in practice they seem to care more about job, family or the pursuit of pleasure. As for seeing a bigger picture, the concerns of this life seem big enough for many people!
However, there is more to life than getting a job, raising a family and pursuing personal pleasure. True biblical religion involves more than just “giving your heart to the Lord,” going to church and achieving personal salvation. There is more to pray about than our own problems. Sadly, the bigger picture has escaped the notice of most people in the world. That big picture has been obscured by ideas that emanate from the major religions of the world—including what many call “Christianity.” We need to ask two crucial questions: “Do we understand what true biblical religion is about?” and “Do we see the big picture?”
The Story Begins
The pages of the Bible reveal the big picture of what life is about, and this theme—which runs through Scripture—is the essence of true biblical religion. When God created our first parents, He explained that human beings were made “in His image” and were intended to “have dominion” over the earth (Genesis 1:26–28). God created us to learn to manage and rule ourselves, and ultimately this earth. He said nothing about going to heaven. When God began to work with Abraham and his wife Sarah, He said that their descendants would become a great nation, a blessing to the peoples of this world and progenitors of kings (Genesis 12:1–3; 17:15–16). God told Abraham that to achieve that goal he must “walk before Me and be blameless” (Genesis 17:1). Becoming blameless [perfect, upright, without blemish] meant learning to follow a way of life that included obeying God’s commandments, statutes and laws (Genesis 26:5). God also instructed Abraham to teach this way of life to his family and descendants (Genesis 18:17–19). This is how Abraham’s offspring would become a great nation, and why they would be a blessing to mankind. This was the big picture that God revealed to Abraham and his descendants.
When God brought the Israelites out of Egypt, He outlined the same big picture. At Sinai, God said: “If you will obey My voice and keep My covenant, then you shall be a special treasure to Me above all people… a kingdom of priests and a holy nation” (Exodus 19:5–6). Exodus 20–23 lists the laws that they were to obey. Moses later explained that if the Israelites would “keep the commandments of the Lord,” they would stand out in the world as a “great nation” and “a wise and understanding people” (Deuteronomy 4:1–10). God intended to use the nation of Israel to demonstrate that benefits flow from following this way of life—true religion. The Israelites were also instructed to teach this way of life to their descendants. Moses also admonished the children of Israel to “be blameless” [become perfect] which meant turning from the ways of this world and learning to fear God, walk in His ways and keep His commandments and statutes (Deuteronomy 18:9–13; 10:12–13). This was the big picture that God revealed to the nation of Israel.
The Story Continues
Contrary to what many believe and teach today, when Jesus Christ came to this earth He did not change the “big picture.” He maintained the same overall focus. Jesus told His disciples to “follow Me” (Matthew 4:19), and He taught that we should live “by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God” (v. 4). Jesus plainly said that He did not come to destroy the law but to fulfill [amplify, magnify] the law (5:17; Isaiah 42:21), and He gave examples to show that we must obey not only the letter of the law but also the spirit of the law (Matthew 5:21–30).
Jesus told His disciples to “be perfect” [blameless, upright, full grown, spiritually mature] (Matthew 5:48), just as God had told Abraham, and Moses had told the Israelites. Jesus’ message was about a coming kingdom of God (Mark 1:14–15). He told His disciples that if they repented and learned to obey the laws of God, they would not only gain eternal life, but would be given positions of rulership in the kingdom of God (Matthew 19:16–30). This was the big picture that Jesus emphasized again and again.
The Apostles whom Jesus trained delivered the same message. John records Christ’s statement: “If you love Me, keep My commandments” (John 14:15). The Apostle Paul mentions that if we repent, change and grow in our understanding of God’s way of life, we can become “children of God” and “heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ,” inheriting what Jesus will inherit (Romans 8:14–17). John later reveals that Christ will return as a ruler, and will reward the saints with positions as kings and priests on this earth (Revelation 11:17–18; 5:10). This is the big picture that the New Testament outlines for Christians. It is the same picture that is repeatedly described in the Old Testament. This “big picture” theme that runs through Scripture—learning to live by the laws of God and preparing to rule on this earth in the coming kingdom of God—is vital to true biblical religion.
Important Details
Many assume that the goal of biblical religion and the Church is to convert the world in this age—yet this has never been part of the “big picture.” The Bible indicates that God is working out a plan. After the Flood, God began to work with one person—Abraham—and his immediate descendants. He continued to work with those descendants when they grew into the nation of Israel. Even within the nation of Israel, God chose to focus on the descendants of Joseph—Ephraim and Manasseh—the American and British-descended peoples of today (Genesis 48:14–22). This is not just a piece of Bible trivia; it is a fundamental aspect of true biblical religion, and it figures predominately in Jesus’ telling His disciples to preach the gospel to “the lost sheep of the house of Israel” (Matthew 10:6–7). Jesus said that this gospel of the kingdom would be preached as a witness before the end of the age, but that the world would not understand or be converted (Matthew 24:14, 36–42). Jesus repeatedly stated that He came to call a few (Matthew 13:10–17; John 6:44, 60–66), and that the rest were blinded (Matthew 15:14) because God has allowed Satan to deceive the whole world for a time (Revelation 12:9). The conversion of the world will take place in the future—in the kingdom of God.
While Jesus came to give His life as a sacrifice for sinners (John 3:16), only those whom God calls now are having an opportunity to understand the truth, repent and grow in this age. It is this group of individuals [called to be firstfruits] with whom God is now working as He prepares for the coming kingdom of God. True biblical religion stresses learning to live by the laws of God because those being called and trained now, who overcome and qualify, will become the leaders and teachers in the kingdom that Jesus will set up on this earth at His return (Isaiah 30:20–21). To be effective leaders and teachers will require learning to exercise the fruits of the Holy Spirit: love, joy, patience and self-control (Galatians 5:22–23). Individuals who rule with Jesus Christ will teach the world how to worship the real God (Zechariah 14:16–20). They will show the peoples of the world how to live, and the way to peace (Isaiah 2:2–4; 9:6–7). They will help restore the environment and direct the rebuilding of cities, and will begin programs to eliminate disease and promote health on a global scale (Isaiah 35:1–7; 61:4). This is what true biblical religion is about, and these are some of the exciting details that make up the “big picture.”
Getting the Picture
But just how does this concept of teaching and ruling in the kingdom of God relate to Christians today? For many it does not seem real, until we understand the big picture! The Bible provides many insights that help bring this picture into focus. Jesus commanded His disciples to “love one another” and to be willing to “lay down one’s life for his friends” (John 15:12–13). Love is an unselfish, outgoing concern for others. It involves compassion, caring and a willingness to spend time and effort helping others solve problems. Jesus also told His disciples that He was looking for servant leaders who can lead by serving others (Matthew 20:25–28). God wants leaders who develop a deep compassion for human beings, and who want to change circumstances that are hurting other people. Such individuals will begin to notice problems that plague society, and prepare themselves for the day when they can help solve these problems. The Apostle Paul admonished Christians to study the word of God (2 Timothy 2:15) because the real solutions to many of the world’s greatest problems are found in the Bible. One of the reasons for going to church is to learn how to apply biblical principles to real life situations. Is that why you go to church?
How can biblical principles be applied to solve major human problems? Today, violence, strife and war plague societies around the world, in spite of the universal desire and almost endless search for peace. God said long ago that human beings simply do not know the way to peace (Isaiah 59:8). Yet the Bible reveals the way to peace. David wrote: “Great peace have those who love Your law” (Psalm 119:165). When people are taught to obey the laws of God—not to kill, to forgive, be patient, not lust or covet, and to treat others as they want to be treated—wars and strife will cease. This will happen in tomorrow’s world, and it will be brought about by those serving in the government of God and ruling on this earth.
Sickness and disease have caused untold suffering down through the ages. Yet many diseases are preventable if basic health principles are followed. God inspired and recorded fundamental laws of health in the Bible, yet there is widespread ignorance of those laws today, and people suffer and die in large numbers around the world as a result. The SARS epidemic has been linked to eating animals that the Bible labels unclean, and that God said should not be eaten (see Leviticus 11; Deuteronomy 14). The AIDS epidemic has spread through promiscuous and perverted sexual practices that Scripture condemns as evil and sinful. Limiting sex to a faithful marriage would stop the spread of this tragic disease. Heart disease, one of the major killers of human beings, is linked to a lack of exercise and to high-fat diets, which the Bible discourages (Leviticus 3:17; 7:23–26). The Bible also indicated, 2,000 years ago, that there are benefits for physical activity (1 Timothy 4:8). Diseases and plagues will be eliminated by teaching people to live by the laws of God.
Infidelity and the breakup of marriages inflict painful consequences on adults and children and tear apart the fabric of human societies. These problems are the result of ignoring and violating the fundamental moral guidelines of Scripture, which condemn lust, selfishness, fornication and adultery. Child crime and child abuse are widespread today, yet the Bible instructs children to obey their parents, and advises parents to love their children and “do not provoke your children to wrath” (Ephesians 6:1–4). Malachi 4:6 describes a foretaste of what the whole world will experience when, in the kingdom of God, the hearts of parents and children will once again be turned toward each other, and the family will be restored.
These are just some of the sweeping changes that will occur when the laws of God are taught and applied on a global basis by those who prepare now and qualify to serve in the government of God. This is what the “times of restoration,” of which the Apostles spoke, are about (Acts 3:19–21). When we look at the problems of mankind, and the solutions that are ignored or go unapplied, we can begin to understand why Jesus said that we should pray: “Thy kingdom come” (Matthew 6:10). As we begin to realize the magnitude of the problems, and we begin earnestly to pray and prepare for the coming kingdom of God, we will see the big picture more clearly—and it will become much more real to us. This is why the Church of God is commissioned to “make ready a people prepared for the Lord” (Luke 1:17), so that they can be effective leaders in tomorrow’s world.
Avoiding Pitfalls
The big picture is truly amazing! The Bible reveals that God is calling and training a select group of people to rule with Jesus Christ when He returns to restore this earth. With Him, they will reorient human civilization on a right path that will lead to real peace and everlasting happiness. Yet the Bible also indicates that even those called to be firstfruits can lose out on this remarkable future. We are admonished to stay focused on the big picture “lest we drift away” and “neglect so great a salvation” (Hebrews 2:1–3). Jesus warned that many false teachers “will come in My name and deceive many” by leading people away from the truth and the big picture (Matthew 24:4–5, 11). Paul mentioned that deceptive teachers, influenced by a different spirit, would promote a different Jesus and a different gospel that would paint a different picture of the future (2 Corinthians 11:3–4). We see this today in many so-called Christian churches where people speak of loving Jesus but ignore the commandments. They speak of going to heaven, and overlook the fact that Christ is going to return and establish a kingdom on this earth, where He and the saints will reign. They observe holidays that originated in paganism instead of the biblical Holy Days, though the Bible clearly instructs us: “Learn not the way of the heathen” (see Jeremiah 10:2, KJV; Deuteronomy 12:29–32). Tragically, these misguided practices lead people away from the truth of God. They substitute a different picture and cause people to lose sight of the real big picture!
Perhaps the most sobering warning involves those who come to knowledge of the truth of God and actually understand the big picture—and then turn away. In the parable of the sower, Jesus describes several groups of people: some whose attention is diverted from the big picture by Satan’s deceptive activities, some who become bogged down and discouraged by personal trials and persecution, and others who become caught up in the “cares of this world”—the acquisition of wealth and worldly possessions, and the pursuit of pleasure, acceptance and prestige (Matthew 13:18–23). All these temporary physical and material things can cause us to lose sight of the big picture, can rob us of our reward, and can tempt us to forget what true biblical religion is about. This is why Jesus said that we must “endure to the end” if we want to participate in the kingdom of God and help bring about the future restitution of all things.
As we approach the end of this age, we need to remember the big picture that God revealed to Adam and Eve, Abraham, and the nation of Israel, and that Jesus Christ conveyed to His disciples. God created us in His image, to become His sons and daughters and eventually to reign with Jesus Christ on this earth as members of the Family of God. To achieve that goal, we must learn to live by the laws of God so that we can become effective teachers of that way of life in the coming kingdom of God. If we grow in compassion for our fellow human beings, and develop a sound knowledge of God’s word and skill in applying biblical principles, we will be able to assist Jesus Christ in reorienting this world to the truth of real biblical religion. The lessons we learn now on a personal level will be applied in the future on a global scale, if we stay focused and avoid deceptions and pitfalls. This is the big picture for which we are all preparing as firstfruits. Are you looking at the big picture?