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00:00:01 Now, the theme of my discussion is 00:00:03 “Despite Changing Circumstances, 00:00:06 Always See the Big Picture.” 00:00:10 Perhaps you’ve heard the expression, 00:00:12 “He can’t see the forest for the trees.” 00:00:15 This is referring to a person 00:00:17 who is too involved in the details of a problem 00:00:20 to see the situation as a whole. 00:00:22 Now, that’s a dangerous problem for anyone, 00:00:25 but especially one of Jehovah’s people. 00:00:27 No matter what the circumstances, 00:00:30 we want to always see the “big picture.” 00:00:33 The first sentence in today’s Watchtower comments says this: 00:00:37 “Philip the evangelizer 00:00:39 “provides a fine example 00:00:42 “of one who stayed focused on [the] ministry 00:00:45 despite changing circumstances.” 00:00:49 And for us, just like Philip, 00:00:51 the big picture is always Jehovah’s thinking 00:00:55 —to see Jehovah’s view of the situation. 00:00:58 Jehovah’s thinking, or Jehovah’s viewpoint, 00:01:01 is so lofty—isn’t it?—so elevated. 00:01:03 Open up to Isaiah, please, 00:01:06 chapter 55, 00:01:08 and notice what is said here about the altitude 00:01:11 of Jehovah’s thinking. 00:01:13 Jehovah says in verse 9: 00:01:15 “For as the heavens are higher than the earth, 00:01:19 “so my ways are higher than your ways 00:01:22 and my thoughts than your thoughts.” 00:01:25 And if you think about it, viewpoint really does make a difference, doesn’t it? 00:01:29 It makes a huge difference. 00:01:30 For example, if you walk up to the World Trade Center building 00:01:33 on the sidewalk and look up, 00:01:35 it’s overwhelming—intimidating. 00:01:38 On the other hand, if you fly over the World Trade Center building 00:01:41 in an airplane and look out the window at it, 00:01:43 it looks like a matchstick stuck in the ground. 00:01:46 Well, viewpoint makes a difference. 00:01:48 Here’s another illustration: 00:01:50 Imagine that you’re lost in a complex maze. 00:01:55 Now, overhead, though, 00:01:58 is a trusted friend in a helicopter. 00:02:01 Now, that friend could easily direct you to safety, is that not true? 00:02:05 Well, in this illustration, our trusted friend 00:02:08 with the elevated view is, of course, Jehovah. 00:02:12 In fact, while you’re still looking at this picture, 00:02:14 let me read to you, please, Jehovah’s words 00:02:17 at Isaiah 30:21—his promise. 00:02:21 He says: “And your own ears will hear a word behind you saying, 00:02:26 “‘This is the way. 00:02:28 “‘Walk in it,’ in case you should go to the right 00:02:32 or in case you should go to the left.” 00:02:36 So if we make Jehovah’s thinking our thinking, 00:02:38 then Jehovah will safely guide us through any situation. 00:02:42 But now, what makes it challenging to always see the big picture? 00:02:47 Well, as we touched on —changing circumstances. 00:02:50 First Corinthians 7:31: 00:02:53 “The scene of this world is changing.” 00:02:55 Similarly, we could say the scene of our lives is constantly changing. 00:03:00 In fact, let’s talk about some changing circumstances 00:03:03 that could come our way before the end of this system 00:03:07 in which we want to always see the big picture. 00:03:11 Now, one is a change of residence. 00:03:14 As we touched on, that happened to Philip. 00:03:16 He was forced out of Jerusalem because of intense persecution. 00:03:21 He ended up in Samaria, but he saw the big picture there. 00:03:24 He knew he didn’t have to be in Jerusalem to preach. 00:03:27 He didn’t have to be in Jerusalem to serve Jehovah. 00:03:30 He could do it in Samaria, and he did so—powerfully. 00:03:35 Probably the most outstanding example 00:03:37 of a change of residence is Jesus. 00:03:40 He left his heavenly abode of billions of years 00:03:43 to live on this little tiny earth. 00:03:46 But obviously, he always saw the big picture 00:03:49 by making Jehovah’s thinking his thinking. 00:03:52 Abraham and Sarah were another excellent example 00:03:55 of a drastic change in residence. 00:03:57 Well, that may happen to us. 00:03:59 We may have a change of residence, 00:04:02 either by no choice of our own or by choice. 00:04:05 We may choose to move and serve where the need is greater. 00:04:08 We may have to move to care for family responsibilities. 00:04:13 I know of a Bethel couple who served at Bethel almost 25 years. 00:04:17 They had to leave to care for a father who had dementia, 00:04:21 but they continue to see the big picture. 00:04:24 They knew that you can preach, you can go to meetings, 00:04:27 you can read God’s Word, and you can serve Jehovah wherever you live. 00:04:31 Now, here’s another changing circumstance: 00:04:34 You develop chronic health problems, 00:04:37 perhaps problems that will only be corrected by Jehovah’s new world. 00:04:41 Now, in this vein, think for a moment about Job. 00:04:44 He was struck with cancerous boils 00:04:48 from the crown of his head to the soles of his feet 00:04:51 —brought to within one inch of death. 00:04:55 He wished that he was dead. 00:04:57 And yet, he saw the big picture, didn’t he? 00:05:00 ‘I’ve got to keep my integrity to Jehovah no matter what.’ 00:05:04 He even said at Job 27:5: 00:05:07 “Until I die, I will not renounce my integrity.” 00:05:11 Now, he had no idea that he would be restored to good health. 00:05:15 But he knew that if he kept his integrity, he would be resurrected. 00:05:19 Jehovah would call him, and he would answer from the grave. 00:05:23 Well, it’s the same with us. 00:05:25 We may develop chronic health problems. 00:05:27 We may even die before the end of this system. 00:05:31 But if we keep our integrity, 00:05:33 such an individual will take a quick nap 00:05:36 and, from his perspective, 00:05:38 instantaneously open his eyes in the new world 00:05:41 —if he keeps his integrity, like Job. 00:05:45 And if you think about this: 00:05:46 No matter how long we have to suffer some illness, 00:05:49 it’s momentary 00:05:52 compared to the permanency of perfect health in Jehovah’s new world. 00:05:56 That’s what 2 Corinthians 4:17 says: 00:05:58 “For though the tribulation is momentary and light, 00:06:02 [yet] it works out for us a glory that is . . . everlasting.” 00:06:07 So if we keep our eyes on the big picture 00:06:09 —maintain integrity— we can trade a moment of pain 00:06:14 for an eternity of perfect health. 00:06:17 You could say, “An ounce of suffering 00:06:20 for gigatons of pleasure.” 00:06:23 Think of that: A gigaton 00:06:25 —a billion tons compared to an ounce. 00:06:28 Here’s another changing circumstance: 00:06:31 We encounter perceived injustice in the congregation. 00:06:36 Now, you notice we said “perceived,” 00:06:38 because often things are not the way we see them to be. 00:06:43 We can’t read hearts. 00:06:45 We don’t have all the facts. 00:06:46 Often our view is like trying to look into a large house 00:06:50 through the front door that’s cracked open one inch (2.5 cm). 00:06:53 We have a very limited view. 00:06:56 So seeing the big picture, 00:06:57 we’ll recognize that we don’t have all the facts. 00:06:59 And seeing the big picture, 00:07:01 we’ll recognize who does have all the facts—Jehovah. 00:07:04 Everything is “naked and openly exposed” to him. 00:07:08 Jesus—Revelation 2:1 refers to him 00:07:12 as having “the seven stars [the elders] in his right hand 00:07:15 and [walking about] among the seven golden lampstands.” 00:07:20 So Jesus, the head of the congregation, has the facts. 00:07:23 So once we’ve done what’s in our jurisdiction 00:07:26 —perhaps reporting the matter— 00:07:28 seeing the big picture, we’ll leave it in the hands 00:07:31 of those who have all the facts, 00:07:33 confident that they will take care of this matter. 00:07:36 If it truly is an injustice, 00:07:38 they will take care of it in their time and their way. 00:07:41 Now, here’s another changing circumstance: 00:07:44 We come face-to-face with some temptation. 00:07:47 Now, in a case like this, we want to be nothing like Eve. 00:07:51 She obviously didn’t see the big picture, did she? 00:07:54 If she had, she would have realized, 00:07:57 ‘This serpent has done nothing for me. 00:08:00 ‘Jehovah has done everything for me. 00:08:03 ‘In a contradictory situation, who, obviously, 00:08:06 would be telling me the truth?’ 00:08:08 Instead, we want to be like Jesus. 00:08:11 When he was tempted by the Devil, 00:08:13 he saw the big picture —didn’t he?— 00:08:14 the issue of universal sovereignty. 00:08:18 So if we’re tempted to look at pornography, 00:08:21 listen to apostate ideas, 00:08:23 flirt with someone who’s not our mate (just a few examples), 00:08:27 let’s pause, elevate our thinking, 00:08:30 make Jehovah’s thinking our thinking, 00:08:32 and let’s see the big picture. 00:08:34 And the big picture is that Satan is trying to get the thin edge of a wedge 00:08:39 into our suit of armor. 00:08:41 Anything this world has to offer 00:08:44 cannot begin to equal the value of our relationship with Jehovah 00:08:48 and our place in his new world. 00:08:50 We’ll also be able to fast-forward if we see the big picture 00:08:53 and see the horrible consequences 00:08:56 of giving in to temptation. 00:08:59 Now, here’s one more changing circumstance: We’re persecuted. 00:09:04 And this can go from ridicule 00:09:07 to being threatened with execution or even being executed. 00:09:12 Think of David for just a moment. 00:09:14 He was ridiculed, and he was threatened with death by Goliath. 00:09:18 But even though David saw how big he was, 00:09:21 David saw the big picture, didn’t he? 00:09:24 He saw how puny, how wimpy 00:09:26 Goliath was compared to Jehovah, the Almighty. 00:09:29 So the big picture has to always include 00:09:32 the almighty God, Jehovah. 00:09:35 And again, we’ll be able to fast-forward to see the horrible consequences 00:09:39 of compromising if we’re persecuted. 00:09:42 On the other hand, we’ll see the wonderful blessings 00:09:45 if we keep our integrity. 00:09:47 We do not compromise. 00:09:49 In fact, even if we’re threatened with death or we’re executed, 00:09:53 if we see the big picture, we’ll realize 00:09:57 that Satan has just handed us a validated passport 00:10:00 right into the new world. 00:10:02 See, that is the big picture. 00:10:05 Well, we’ve talked about seeing the big picture 00:10:07 when you have a change of residence, 00:10:09 your health deteriorates, 00:10:12 you encounter a perceived injustice, 00:10:15 you come face-to-face with temptation, 00:10:17 or you are persecuted. 00:10:19 And these are just a few examples. 00:10:22 It may not always be easy 00:10:24 to see the big picture in challenging circumstances. 00:10:27 But the key is to make Jehovah’s thinking our thinking 00:10:31 —pause, elevate our thinking, view it from Jehovah’s standpoint. 00:10:36 The result will be protection and blessings coming our way 00:10:41 and praise going Jehovah’s way.
00:00:01 Now, the theme of my discussion is 00:00:03 “Despite Changing Circumstances, 00:00:06 Always See the Big Picture.” 00:00:10 Perhaps you’ve heard the expression, 00:00:12 “He can’t see the forest for the trees.” 00:00:15 This is referring to a person 00:00:17 who is too involved in the details of a problem 00:00:20 to see the situation as a whole. 00:00:22 Now, that’s a dangerous problem for anyone, 00:00:25 but especially one of Jehovah’s people. 00:00:27 No matter what the circumstances, 00:00:30 we want to always see the “big picture.” 00:00:33 The first sentence in today’s Watchtower comments says this: 00:00:37 “Philip the evangelizer 00:00:39 “provides a fine example 00:00:42 “of one who stayed focused on [the] ministry 00:00:45 despite changing circumstances.” 00:00:49 And for us, just like Philip, 00:00:51 the big picture is always Jehovah’s thinking 00:00:55 —to see Jehovah’s view of the situation. 00:00:58 Jehovah’s thinking, or Jehovah’s viewpoint, 00:01:01 is so lofty—isn’t it?—so elevated. 00:01:03 Open up to Isaiah, please, 00:01:06 chapter 55, 00:01:08 and notice what is said here about the altitude 00:01:11 of Jehovah’s thinking. 00:01:13 Jehovah says in verse 9: 00:01:15 “For as the heavens are higher than the earth, 00:01:19 “so my ways are higher than your ways 00:01:22 and my thoughts than your thoughts.” 00:01:25 And if you think about it, viewpoint really does make a difference, doesn’t it? 00:01:29 It makes a huge difference. 00:01:30 For example, if you walk up to the World Trade Center building 00:01:33 on the sidewalk and look up, 00:01:35 it’s overwhelming—intimidating. 00:01:38 On the other hand, if you fly over the World Trade Center building 00:01:41 in an airplane and look out the window at it, 00:01:43 it looks like a matchstick stuck in the ground. 00:01:46 Well, viewpoint makes a difference. 00:01:48 Here’s another illustration: 00:01:50 Imagine that you’re lost in a complex maze. 00:01:55 Now, overhead, though, 00:01:58 is a trusted friend in a helicopter. 00:02:01 Now, that friend could easily direct you to safety, is that not true? 00:02:05 Well, in this illustration, our trusted friend 00:02:08 with the elevated view is, of course, Jehovah. 00:02:12 In fact, while you’re still looking at this picture, 00:02:14 let me read to you, please, Jehovah’s words 00:02:17 at Isaiah 30:21—his promise. 00:02:21 He says: “And your own ears will hear a word behind you saying, 00:02:26 “‘This is the way. 00:02:28 “‘Walk in it,’ in case you should go to the right 00:02:32 or in case you should go to the left.” 00:02:36 So if we make Jehovah’s thinking our thinking, 00:02:38 then Jehovah will safely guide us through any situation. 00:02:42 But now, what makes it challenging to always see the big picture? 00:02:47 Well, as we touched on —changing circumstances. 00:02:50 First Corinthians 7:31: 00:02:53 “The scene of this world is changing.” 00:02:55 Similarly, we could say the scene of our lives is constantly changing. 00:03:00 In fact, let’s talk about some changing circumstances 00:03:03 that could come our way before the end of this system 00:03:07 in which we want to always see the big picture. 00:03:11 Now, one is a change of residence. 00:03:14 As we touched on, that happened to Philip. 00:03:16 He was forced out of Jerusalem because of intense persecution. 00:03:21 He ended up in Samaria, but he saw the big picture there. 00:03:24 He knew he didn’t have to be in Jerusalem to preach. 00:03:27 He didn’t have to be in Jerusalem to serve Jehovah. 00:03:30 He could do it in Samaria, and he did so—powerfully. 00:03:35 Probably the most outstanding example 00:03:37 of a change of residence is Jesus. 00:03:40 He left his heavenly abode of billions of years 00:03:43 to live on this little tiny earth. 00:03:46 But obviously, he always saw the big picture 00:03:49 by making Jehovah’s thinking his thinking. 00:03:52 Abraham and Sarah were another excellent example 00:03:55 of a drastic change in residence. 00:03:57 Well, that may happen to us. 00:03:59 We may have a change of residence, 00:04:02 either by no choice of our own or by choice. 00:04:05 We may choose to move and serve where the need is greater. 00:04:08 We may have to move to care for family responsibilities. 00:04:13 I know of a Bethel couple who served at Bethel almost 25 years. 00:04:17 They had to leave to care for a father who had dementia, 00:04:21 but they continue to see the big picture. 00:04:24 They knew that you can preach, you can go to meetings, 00:04:27 you can read God’s Word, and you can serve Jehovah wherever you live. 00:04:31 Now, here’s another changing circumstance: 00:04:34 You develop chronic health problems, 00:04:37 perhaps problems that will only be corrected by Jehovah’s new world. 00:04:41 Now, in this vein, think for a moment about Job. 00:04:44 He was struck with cancerous boils 00:04:48 from the crown of his head to the soles of his feet 00:04:51 —brought to within one inch of death. 00:04:55 He wished that he was dead. 00:04:57 And yet, he saw the big picture, didn’t he? 00:05:00 ‘I’ve got to keep my integrity to Jehovah no matter what.’ 00:05:04 He even said at Job 27:5: 00:05:07 “Until I die, I will not renounce my integrity.” 00:05:11 Now, he had no idea that he would be restored to good health. 00:05:15 But he knew that if he kept his integrity, he would be resurrected. 00:05:19 Jehovah would call him, and he would answer from the grave. 00:05:23 Well, it’s the same with us. 00:05:25 We may develop chronic health problems. 00:05:27 We may even die before the end of this system. 00:05:31 But if we keep our integrity, 00:05:33 such an individual will take a quick nap 00:05:36 and, from his perspective, 00:05:38 instantaneously open his eyes in the new world 00:05:41 —if he keeps his integrity, like Job. 00:05:45 And if you think about this: 00:05:46 No matter how long we have to suffer some illness, 00:05:49 it’s momentary 00:05:52 compared to the permanency of perfect health in Jehovah’s new world. 00:05:56 That’s what 2 Corinthians 4:17 says: 00:05:58 “For though the tribulation is momentary and light, 00:06:02 [yet] it works out for us a glory that is . . . everlasting.” 00:06:07 So if we keep our eyes on the big picture 00:06:09 —maintain integrity— we can trade a moment of pain 00:06:14 for an eternity of perfect health. 00:06:17 You could say, “An ounce of suffering 00:06:20 for gigatons of pleasure.” 00:06:23 Think of that: A gigaton 00:06:25 —a billion tons compared to an ounce. 00:06:28 Here’s another changing circumstance: 00:06:31 We encounter perceived injustice in the congregation. 00:06:36 Now, you notice we said “perceived,” 00:06:38 because often things are not the way we see them to be. 00:06:43 We can’t read hearts. 00:06:45 We don’t have all the facts. 00:06:46 Often our view is like trying to look into a large house 00:06:50 through the front door that’s cracked open one inch (2.5 cm). 00:06:53 We have a very limited view. 00:06:56 So seeing the big picture, 00:06:57 we’ll recognize that we don’t have all the facts. 00:06:59 And seeing the big picture, 00:07:01 we’ll recognize who does have all the facts—Jehovah. 00:07:04 Everything is “naked and openly exposed” to him. 00:07:08 Jesus—Revelation 2:1 refers to him 00:07:12 as having “the seven stars [the elders] in his right hand 00:07:15 and [walking about] among the seven golden lampstands.” 00:07:20 So Jesus, the head of the congregation, has the facts. 00:07:23 So once we’ve done what’s in our jurisdiction 00:07:26 —perhaps reporting the matter— 00:07:28 seeing the big picture, we’ll leave it in the hands 00:07:31 of those who have all the facts, 00:07:33 confident that they will take care of this matter. 00:07:36 If it truly is an injustice, 00:07:38 they will take care of it in their time and their way. 00:07:41 Now, here’s another changing circumstance: 00:07:44 We come face-to-face with some temptation. 00:07:47 Now, in a case like this, we want to be nothing like Eve. 00:07:51 She obviously didn’t see the big picture, did she? 00:07:54 If she had, she would have realized, 00:07:57 ‘This serpent has done nothing for me. 00:08:00 ‘Jehovah has done everything for me. 00:08:03 ‘In a contradictory situation, who, obviously, 00:08:06 would be telling me the truth?’ 00:08:08 Instead, we want to be like Jesus. 00:08:11 When he was tempted by the Devil, 00:08:13 he saw the big picture —didn’t he?— 00:08:14 the issue of universal sovereignty. 00:08:18 So if we’re tempted to look at pornography, 00:08:21 listen to apostate ideas, 00:08:23 flirt with someone who’s not our mate (just a few examples), 00:08:27 let’s pause, elevate our thinking, 00:08:30 make Jehovah’s thinking our thinking, 00:08:32 and let’s see the big picture. 00:08:34 And the big picture is that Satan is trying to get the thin edge of a wedge 00:08:39 into our suit of armor. 00:08:41 Anything this world has to offer 00:08:44 cannot begin to equal the value of our relationship with Jehovah 00:08:48 and our place in his new world. 00:08:50 We’ll also be able to fast-forward if we see the big picture 00:08:53 and see the horrible consequences 00:08:56 of giving in to temptation. 00:08:59 Now, here’s one more changing circumstance: We’re persecuted. 00:09:04 And this can go from ridicule 00:09:07 to being threatened with execution or even being executed. 00:09:12 Think of David for just a moment. 00:09:14 He was ridiculed, and he was threatened with death by Goliath. 00:09:18 But even though David saw how big he was, 00:09:21 David saw the big picture, didn’t he? 00:09:24 He saw how puny, how wimpy 00:09:26 Goliath was compared to Jehovah, the Almighty. 00:09:29 So the big picture has to always include 00:09:32 the almighty God, Jehovah. 00:09:35 And again, we’ll be able to fast-forward to see the horrible consequences 00:09:39 of compromising if we’re persecuted. 00:09:42 On the other hand, we’ll see the wonderful blessings 00:09:45 if we keep our integrity. 00:09:47 We do not compromise. 00:09:49 In fact, even if we’re threatened with death or we’re executed, 00:09:53 if we see the big picture, we’ll realize 00:09:57 that Satan has just handed us a validated passport 00:10:00 right into the new world. 00:10:02 See, that is the big picture. 00:10:05 Well, we’ve talked about seeing the big picture 00:10:07 when you have a change of residence, 00:10:09 your health deteriorates, 00:10:12 you encounter a perceived injustice, 00:10:15 you come face-to-face with temptation, 00:10:17 or you are persecuted. 00:10:19 And these are just a few examples. 00:10:22 It may not always be easy 00:10:24 to see the big picture in challenging circumstances. 00:10:27 But the key is to make Jehovah’s thinking our thinking 00:10:31 —pause, elevate our thinking, view it from Jehovah’s standpoint. 00:10:36 The result will be protection and blessings coming our way 00:10:41 and praise going Jehovah’s way.
