IN COMMON . . . Has God Almighty changed his purpose for humans and the earth?

Hi All! . . . And Welcome Back!

Tuesday we discussed the Creator's mandate for Adam and Eve and their future offspring: “Be fruitful and become many, fill the earth and subdue it". Genesis 1:28.

So today's question is: Has God Almighty changed his purpose for humans and the earth?
Here's a personal question: Would that not be the equivalent of admitting defeat? . . . Is the Almighty capable of defeat?. . . Should he be called 'Almighty' if he can be defeated? . . . And by whom? . . . One of his creations?

You are probably thinking? . . . Then why all the suffering?

Good question!

Remember: Adam and Eve were given a choice:

"Jehovah God also gave this command to the man: "“From every tree of the garden you may eat to satisfaction. But as for the tree of the knowledge of good and bad, you must not eat from it, for in the day you eat from it you will certainly die.”" Genesis 2:16, 17.

Their 'free-will' granted them freedom to live within certain designated perimeters for their well-being. But the Creator also wanted them to choose to worship him out of love because of the love he showed them: A paradise garden, beautiful weather, lovable animals to interact with, sunsets and sunrises, waterfalls and rivers.

But did they stop to think about what they already had?

Eve, being new to the scene and targeted first failed and induced a older mature being to forget. He forgot to communicate with his righteous provider. Forgot that everything he had was by means of his Father. That his Father could handle any situation that would arise, because he had thought of everything. Even what would happen if they chose not to obey.

So, why not ask for advice?

Yes, he hoped they would. Just as if we manufactured a product and provided a manual for all operators to follow for the best results, but aware that some would choose not to read it.

But God is loyal, also to his standards. He does not irritate his children with fluctuating values. And he acts at a time that is beneficial to all.

Now, let's think about this word loyalty for a moment. . . What is "loyalty" and how does it differ from faithfulness? . . . Yes, we are going back to school.

Did you know that “Loyalty” as used in the Hebrew Scriptures is kindness that lovingly attaches itself to an object and does not let go until its purpose in connection with that object is realized?

Yes, more is involved than faithfulness. After all, a person might be faithful merely out of a sense of duty. In contrast, loyalty is rooted in love. Then, too, the word “faithful” can be applied to inanimate things. For example, the psalmist called the moon “a faithful witness in the skies” because of its regular nightly appearance. (Psalm 89:37) But the moon cannot be described as being loyal.

Why?

Because loyalty is an expression of love—something that inanimate things cannot display.
Only intelligent living creatures can truly reflect Jehovah’s loyalty.

So, in its Scriptural sense, loyalty is like a down coat--warm and comforting. Its very manifestation indicates that a relationship exists between the person who displays the quality and the one toward whom it is shown. Such loyalty is not fickle. It is not like waves of the sea blown about by changing winds. On the contrary, loyalty, or loyal love, has the stability and strength to overcome the most daunting of obstacles.

But, such loyalty is rare today. All too often, close companions are “disposed to break one another to pieces.” Increasingly, we hear of spouses who abandon their mates. (Proverbs 18:24; Malachi 2:14-16) Treacherous acts are so common that we might find ourselves echoing the words of the prophet Micah: “The loyal one has perished from the earth.” (Micah 7:2)

However, even as humans often fail to show loving-kindness, loyalty outstandingly characterizes Jehovah. Remember that loyalty is a facet of love. Since “God is love”—he being the very personification of this quality—who could display loyalty more completely than Jehovah? (1 John 4:8) Angels and humans may reflect God’s attributes, but only Jehovah is loyal to the superlative degree. And as “the Ancient of Days,” he has been displaying loving-kindness longer than any creature, earthly or heavenly. (Daniel 7:9) Hence, Jehovah is the very epitome of loyalty. He displays this quality in a manner that no creature can match.

He is “loyal in all his works.” (Psalm 145:17)

In what way?

Psalm 136 provides an answer. There a number of Jehovah’s saving acts are cited, including the dramatic deliverance of the Israelites through the Red Sea. Significantly, each verse of this psalm is punctuated with the phrase: “For his loving-kindness [or, loyalty] is to time indefinite.” As you read those verses, you cannot help but be struck by the many ways in which Jehovah demonstrated loving-kindness toward his people. Yes, Jehovah displays loyalty to his faithful servants by hearing their cries for help and by taking action at the appointed time. (Psalm 34:6) Jehovah’s loyal love for his servants does not waver as long as they remain loyal to him.

In addition, Jehovah demonstrates loyalty to his servants by remaining true to his standards. Unlike some erratic humans, who are guided by mere whim and sentiment, Jehovah does not vacillate in his view of what is right and what is wrong. Throughout the millenniums, his view of such things as spiritism, idolatry, and murder has remained unchanged. “Even to one’s old age I am the same One,” he stated through his prophet Isaiah. (Isaiah 46:4) Hence, we can have confidence that we will benefit by following the clear moral direction found in God’s Word.—Isaiah 48:17-19.

Jehovah also shows loyalty by remaining faithful to his word of promise. When he foretells something, it comes to pass. Jehovah thus stated: “My word that goes forth from my mouth . . . will not return to me without results, but it will certainly do that in which I have delighted, and it will have certain success in that for which I have sent it.” (Isaiah 55:11) By remaining faithful to his word, Jehovah shows loyalty to his people. He does not keep them anxiously awaiting something that he does not intend to bring about. Jehovah’s reputation is so impeccable in this regard that his servant Joshua was able to say: “Not a promise failed out of all the good promise that Jehovah had made to the house of Israel; it all came true.” (Joshua 21:45) We can be confident, then, that we will never be led to disappointment because of some failure on Jehovah’s part to live up to his promises.—Isaiah 49:23; Romans 5:5.

As noted earlier, the Bible tells us that Jehovah’s loving-kindness “is to time indefinite.” (Psalm 136:1) How is this so?

For one thing, Jehovah’s forgiveness of sins is permanent. Jehovah does not bring up errors of the past for which a person has been pardoned. Since “all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,” should not each of us be grateful that Jehovah’s loving-kindness is to time indefinite?—Romans 3:23.

But Jehovah’s loving-kindness is to time indefinite in another sense as well. His Word says that the righteous one “will certainly become like a tree planted by streams of water, that gives its own fruit in its season and the foliage of which does not wither, and everything he does will succeed.” (Psalm 1:3)

Imagine this luxuriant tree whose foliage never withers! So, too, if we take genuine delight in God’s Word, our lives will be long, peaceful, and fruitful. The blessings that Jehovah loyally extends to his faithful servants are everlasting. Truly, in the righteous new world that Jehovah will bring, obedient mankind will experience his loving-kindness to time indefinite.—Revelation 21:3, 4.

So now the question is posed to you: Has God Almighty changed his purpose for humans and the earth?

What do you conclude?