Is Your Eye “Simple”?

“If, then, your eye is simple, your whole body will be bright.”—MATTHEW 6:22.

VISION is generally considered the most precious and important of the senses—especially by those who no longer have it. Scientists tell us that every second ten trillion particles of light pass through the pupils of our eyes. As they reach the retina, they are received by a hundred million rod and cone cells. Stimulated by the light, these nerve cells begin sending electrical signals to the brain. There, a large portion of the hundred billion neurons go to work to decipher what has just been received and to decide what response needs to be made. All of this takes just a fraction of a second. Indeed, the eye is an awesome example of the marvel of intelligent creation.—Psalm 139:14.

2 Though scientists know a good deal about the biological workings of the eye and the brain, they know little about how and why we respond as we do to what we see. For example, it is not fully understood why one person prefers red to blue while another may prefer blue to red, or why different colors affect us in different ways. The relationship between vision and reaction remains a puzzle. But Jehovah, the Maker of the eye, and his Son and co-worker, Jesus Christ, are well aware of the intricacies of the physical eye, and they know how the eye influences our actions and our lives.

“The Lamp of the Body”

3 Jesus remarked that “the lamp of the body is the eye.” (Matthew 6:22) A lamp is used to light up a dark place so that we know where we are, how to act, which way to go, and so on. By admitting light into our body, our eyes serve the same function as a lamp. They enable us to keep in close touch with the world around us and to respond with intelligent and specific reactions, rather than groping, stumbling, and possibly hurting ourselves.

4 The extent to which the eye can serve as a lamp to the body, however, depends largely on the condition of the eye. For this reason, Jesus went on to say: “If, then, your eye is simple, your whole body will be bright; but if your eye is wicked, your whole body will be dark. If in reality the light that is in you is darkness, how great that darkness is!” (Matthew 6:22, 23) From this we can see the tremendous influence that the eye exerts on our entire life course, for good or for bad.

Influence of the Eye

5 Consider the case of the first woman, Eve. The extent to which the eye influenced her actions can be seen from the Bible’s account of her encounter with the Deceiver, Satan the Devil. (2 Corinthians 11:3; 1 Timothy 2:14) Satan suggested that ‘her eyes were bound to be opened’ if she would just ignore God’s command and take and eat the fruit from “the tree of the knowledge of good and bad.” How did she respond? The Bible tells us: “Consequently the woman saw that the tree was good for food and that it was something to be longed for to the eyes, yes, the tree was desirable to look upon.” She allowed her eyes to dwell upon something forbidden to her. That was a deliberate misuse of the eye. What was the result? “So she began taking of its fruit and eating it.”—Genesis 2:17; 3:4-6.

6 No doubt this was not the first time Eve saw “the tree of the knowledge of good and bad” or its fruit. But something different was happening. This time it appeared to be “something to be longed for to the eyes” and “desirable to look upon.” Longing and desire normally are qualities not of the eye but of the heart. But what the eye sees intensifies the longing and desire of the heart, so much so that action may result. In Eve’s case, such action led to disastrous consequences for herself and her husband Adam, as well as for all their future offspring, including us today.—Romans 5:12; James 1:14, 15.

7 To show, however, that it is possible to resist any influence for bad that may come through the eye, we might consider the example of Jesus Christ. Again, the same Tempter, Satan, was involved. In his third effort to draw Jesus away from doing God’s will, “the Devil took him along to an unusually high mountain, and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory.” Notice that Satan did not just verbally offer Jesus all the power and glory of the world in exchange for an act of worship. He “showed him” these things, exploiting the powerful influence of the eye. Yet, because Jesus’ eye was not distracted by the tempting offer but was closely focused on his relationship with his heavenly Father, Jehovah, he was successful in thwarting Satan’s cunning scheme.—Matthew 4:8-10.

8 What can we learn from the foregoing examples? First, that what we focus our eyes on can reinforce the good or the bad desires of our heart. This may lead to action that will bring either blessing or disaster for ourselves and others. Second, it is clear that the eye is a favorite means by which Satan moves to deceive his victims. Of all the “designs” that Satan uses to mislead mankind, this appeal to the eye appears to be one of the most powerful.—2 Corinthians 2:11.

9 Today, Satan still uses the same tactic in his schemes to draw all people away from doing God’s will. Through the glitter and glamour of the world, Satan promotes “the desire of the flesh and the desire of the eyes and the showy display of one’s means of life.” (1 John 2:16) This is clearly seen in the advertising schemes used by the commercial world. Is it not true that the most successful advertisements are those that capitalize on their visual impact? The thousands of colorful billboards and flashing signs, the glossy pictures in magazines and newspapers, the clever TV spots—and the billions of dollars spent to produce them—all testify to the fact that the whole idea of advertising is to stimulate the consumer’s “desire of the eyes.”

10 While many of these advertisements may leave little to the imagination, what is more subtle is the fact that these ads are really promoting not just consumer products but also life-styles. Very often the products are displayed as being used by the most privileged, influential, happy, and beautiful people. The message is that if the consumer uses that product, his “means of life” will automatically fit into one of those categories. Advertisers know that once a person accepts a certain manner of life, it takes little to persuade him or her to accept the goods and commodities that go along with it. In this light, how wise it is for dedicated Christians to heed the counsel found at Hebrews 13:5! There we read: “Let your manner of life be free of the love of money, while you are content with the present things.”

Keeping the Eye “Simple,” Not “Wicked”

11 Confronted daily with such an array of eye-appealing distractions, we can appreciate all the more why Jesus Christ admonished us to keep our eye “simple” and not “wicked.” (Matthew 6:22, 23) What does that mean? “Simple” here is translated from the Greek word ha·plous´, which basically means singleness of mind or devotion to one purpose. On the other hand, “wicked” in the original Greek is po·ne·ros´ and has the meaning of bad, worthless, evil. Thus, the ‘simple eye,’ rather than being distracted or sidetracked by everything that is going on, focuses its attention on only one thing. By contrast, the ‘wicked eye’ is shifty, crafty, and covetous, and is drawn to things shady and dark.

12 But what should the eye focus on so that the “whole body will be bright”? A consideration of the context will help us to find the answer. In the preceding verses, Jesus was talking about “treasures upon the earth” and “treasures in heaven.” He said that “where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” Then, after discussing the eye, he again emphasized the need to show singleness of purpose, saying: “No one can slave for two masters,” God and Riches. In the following verses, he offered counsel on one’s view of the daily necessities and concluded with the admonition: “Keep on, then, seeking first the kingdom and his righteousness, and all these other things will be added to you.”—Matthew 6:19-34.

13 What can we glean from all of this? Jesus is here talking about goals in life, pointing out the futility of the pursuit of material things and the blessing of cultivating interest in spiritual matters. Clearly, he is telling us that by focusing our eyes singly on Kingdom interests, our “whole body will be bright.” Why? Because if we make the doing of God’s will our goal in life, we will seek to reflect the glorious good news in every aspect of our lives. Not only can we look forward to a bright future but we can also be freed from the dark and underhanded things produced by a life devoted to selfish pursuits.—2 Corinthians 4:1-6.

14 The apostle Paul reinforced Jesus’ words when he explained: “Those who are determined to be rich fall into temptation and a snare and many senseless and hurtful desires, which plunge men into destruction and ruin.” (1 Timothy 6:9) There surely is substance to these words! The news is full of stories about senators, mayors, judges, bankers, corporate executives, and others who have been caught in white-collar crimes that, according to one report, “rake in a minimum of 200 billion dollars annually” in the United States alone. The ‘temptation and snare’ of becoming rich have turned many once respectable individuals into felons and criminals. Surely, we want to avoid being ‘plunged into destruction and ruin,’ experiencing the “darkness” about which Jesus warned.—See Proverbs 23:4, 5.

15 However, is it only those who set their eye on becoming rich that face the danger of walking in darkness? No, for “the desire of the eyes” also includes many other things. Recall Jesus’ words at Matthew 5:28: “Everyone that keeps on looking at a woman so as to have a passion for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart.” Surely, that warning can also be applied to allowing one’s eyes to dwell on material that is designed to excite or arouse illicit passions and desires.

16 Then there is the anxiety over food, drink, and clothing that Jesus spoke about. (Matthew 6:25-32) While these things are necessary, an inordinate desire always to have the latest, the richest, the most sought after, can enslave our mind and heart. (Romans 16:18; Philippians 3:19) Even in recreation, hobbies, sports, exercise, and so on, we must maintain proper balance and guard against being caught up in the fads and fancies of the world. In all these areas, it would be good for us to bear in mind the wise words found at Proverbs 27:20: “Sheol and the place of destruction themselves do not get satisfied; neither do the eyes of a man get satisfied.” Indeed, we need to exercise self-control so that in trying to satisfy our eyes we do not endanger ourselves spiritually.

Blessings for Keeping the Eye “Simple”

17 Those who have kept their eye “simple” and have focused it intently on God’s Kingdom promises have received many blessings from Jehovah. This is well illustrated by the experiences of people from around the world and from many walks of life. Consider these examples:

“When I was serving where the need is great in Colombia, South America, I had to live on an income of approximately $100 a month. I had started pioneering, but at the start of the month, I fell and broke my ankle. The resulting medical expenses drained my resources, and I would not get any more money until the end of the month. My Kingdom Hall contribution was due, but if I contributed the money, I would have nothing to buy groceries with the next week. After considering the matter for a few days, I decided that the hall rent must be paid, so I put the money in the contribution box. The very next morning, I received a letter from a sister in the United States who had visited me in Colombia. In her letter she enclosed some Colombian money left over from her visit. It was the exact amount I had dropped in the box.”

On a hot Tuesday afternoon, Ki, who operates a clinic in Taechun, Korea, was invited by three co-workers to spend the afternoon at the beach. Though the idea was tempting, Ki knew that if he went, he would not be back in time to be at the Congregation Book Study that evening. So he declined the invitation. Moments later, the three were brought back to the clinic—dead! They had a fatal traffic accident right after leaving the clinic. Ki grieved over the incident but was glad his life had been spared on account of his sticking to the good habit he had formed over the years.—Hebrews 10:24, 25.

18 Even young ones can be taught to keep their eyes focused on Kingdom interests, as is illustrated by the following experience:

“When we heard from two visitors that brothers in three congregations in the Philippines had to come up with $1,000 per congregation—a substantial sum for them—to rebuild their burned-down Kingdom Hall, my husband and I decided that we wanted to make a contribution. What about our four children, from four months to six years of age? Every week when my husband got paid, he would buy a silver dollar for each child. My husband divided the coins so that each child could see how much he had. We also mentioned some of the things they had set their hearts on buying with the money. But the answer was always the same—they wanted to give the money to the brothers.” With their $99, the children also sent along a simple letter. The brothers in the Philippines were so moved by the love and generosity that many of them were in tears when the letter was read.

19 “As for your eyes, straight ahead they should look, yes, your own beaming eyes should gaze straight in front of you.” (Proverbs 4:25) How wise it is for us to heed that counsel and not allow our eyes to wander, so that we get sidetracked! “Keep strict watch that how you walk is not as unwise but as wise persons,” Paul advised, “buying out the opportune time for yourselves, because the days are wicked.” He also urged: “Go on perceiving what the will of Jehovah is.” (Ephesians 5:15-17) By doing so, we can rest assured that we will be successful in keeping our eye “simple,” and we can confidently look forward to a bright future—everlasting life in God’s promised new system of things.—Compare 2 Corinthians 4:17, 18.

Can You Explain

· How is the eye “the lamp of the body”?

· How does the eye influence our actions, as exemplified by Eve and by Jesus?

· In what ways does Satan appeal to “the desire of the eyes” today?

· What must we do to keep our eye “simple”?

· What should we focus our eyes on now?

A “Simple Eye” Is Needed

WHAT our eyes focus on, what they see and how they see have a bearing on our actions. Good vision can help us to avoid danger, whereas defective vision can cause us to misjudge matters and bring injury to ourselves and others.

It is for this reason that Jesus Christ spoke of the “eye” as a “lamp.” He said: “The lamp of the body is the eye. If, then, your eye is simple, your whole body will be bright.”—Matt. 6:22.

In a literal sense, a “simple” eye would be one that is in focus, conveying clear images to the mind. On the basis of clear visual impressions, decisions can be made for the benefit of the entire body. If, however, the eye were to wander aimlessly, not fixing its attention on any particular object, confused and blurred images would be conveyed to the mind. The effect of this could be compared to walking in the darkness of night.

What is true in a literal sense is also true in a spiritual sense. In fact, Jesus Christ, in speaking of the “simple” eye, had this aspect in mind. And spiritual vision depends upon whether the heart, mind and conscience are trained in harmony with God’s will. If they are not, the individual is in “darkness.” He is blind to his responsibilities toward God and fellowmen and therefore acts in ways that are injurious.

When not guided by the righteous principles of God’s Word, a person can come to view things in an impure way or with evil design. That is why the Bible refers to the ‘ungenerous eye,’ the “envious eye” and “eyes full of adultery.” (Deut. 15:9; Prov. 28:22; 2 Pet. 2:14) How might a person’s eye be “ungenerous”? The ‘ungenerous eye’ has no compassion but is deliberately blind to the needs of others. Selfishness and an unwillingness to sacrifice in behalf of others becloud the vision. Similarly, one may also come to look upon what others have with envy, making one a “man of envious eye.” And the married man who keeps on looking at a woman other than his wife so as to develop a passion for her reveals himself to be one whose eyes are “full of adultery.”

Effort is required to maintain a “simple” eye, one that does not look desiringly upon what is wrong. There being sinful inclinations within us, we should at all times strive to keep these under control, praying that we do not begin to look upon something bad as desirable. This would be in keeping with the prayerful expression of the psalmist: “Make my eyes pass on from seeing what is worthless.”—Ps. 119:37.

Another vital factor in maintaining a “simple” eye is appreciation for the relationship one enjoys with the Creator, Jehovah God. This relationship should be the focal point of one’s life. When that is the case, a person is stirred to exert himself to maintain an approved standing before Jehovah. He does not allow himself to be sidetracked by selfish desires.

Rather than making perishable material things his chief goal in life, a person with a “simple” eye has as his prime concern the ‘storing up of treasures in heaven,’ treasures that cannot be lost, stolen or destroyed. (Matt. 6:19-21) His record of fine works is indeed like riches deposited with Jehovah God, who does not forget the faithful deeds of his servants but rewards them with grand blessings. (Heb. 6:10) These fine works include, not only assisting others to gain an accurate knowledge of God’s purposes, but also looking well to one’s Christian obligation to care for family responsibilities, being exemplary in what one does at work, school or elsewhere, and being alert to aid fellow believers in their time of physical or spiritual need. (Gal. 6:10; Eph. 4:25; 1 Tim. 5:8; Titus 2:1-10) Yes, rather than putting his trust in transitory riches or selfishly seeking to amass still greater wealth, the person having a “simple” eye strives to use what he has in furthering the advancement of true worship and assisting those in real need.

When a person’s eye is truly fixed on the Creator, he does not become overanxious about ‘making a living.’ He appreciates the wisdom of Jesus’ counsel: “Stop being anxious about your souls as to what you will eat or what you will drink, or about your bodies as to what you will wear. Does not the soul mean more than food and the body than clothing? Observe intently the birds of heaven, because they do not sow seed or reap or gather into storehouses; still your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not worth more than they are?”—Matt. 6:25, 26.

This does not mean that the servant of God will not experience problems in making a living, or suffer adversity and enemy opposition. Proverbs 24:16 says: “The righteous one may fall even seven times.” But will the “righteous one” be forsaken, completely abandoned without any help when faced with such adverse circumstances? Not at all. The proverb continues: “He will certainly get up.” God will help him to overcome.

The person whose “eye” is always on Jehovah will therefore not allow himself to be robbed of the calming assurance that, regardless of what might happen, his God will not forsake him. (Heb. 13:5) He will not get ensnared into thinking that he will have to resort to dishonesty in order to make a living. Along with other devoted servants of God, he will be of good courage and say: “Jehovah is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?”—Heb. 13:6.

Truly a “simple” eye is needed; it serves as a real safeguard. In that the “simple” eye shifts away from the desire to gain riches and away from undue anxiety about the cares of life, the faculties of the body continue to be used in acquiring the more valuable spiritual riches. Then, too, the person who views everything from God’s standpoint will not become a practicer of the degraded works of the flesh—‘uncleanness, loose conduct, idolatry, spiritism, enmities, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, contentions, divisions, sects, envies, drunken bouts, revelries, and things like these.’ (Gal. 5:19-21) This is because, as Galatians 5:16, says: “Keep walking by spirit and you will carry out no fleshly desire at all.”

Are you working hard to maintain a “simple” eye, one that focuses its full attention on Jehovah God and looks at things in a pure way? Your welfare and life depend upon this.

Keeping Our Eye “Simple” in Kingdom Work

THE German Democratic Republic (G.D.R.), or what was known as East Germany, barely reached middle age. Forty-one years of existence ended on October 3, 1990, when its territory, roughly the size of Liberia or the state of Tennessee in the United States, was integrated into the Federal Republic of Germany, which had been called West Germany.

Reunification of the two Germanys has meant an immense package of reforms. What had separated the two countries was, not just a physical border, but a frontier of ideologies. What did all of this mean for the people there, and how has life changed for Jehovah’s Witnesses?

The Wende, the revolution in November 1989 that made reunification possible, came hard on the heels of four decades of rigid socialism. During that period, the activities of Jehovah’s Witnesses were banned, and the persecution of them was at times intense. When freedom came to the G.D.R., euphoria swept through the population. But as the elation waned, many became disoriented, disappointed, even disillusioned. The task of integrating the two Germanys into one social, political, and economic entity is proving to be formidable.

According to the special report “162 Tage Deutsche Geschichte” (162 Days of German History) in Der Spiegel, following reunification there was widespread fear of unemployment, inflation, and increasing rents. “Will I have enough pension?” asked many in the former G.D.R. What about housing? “All over the G.D.R., old buildings are falling into decay, whole streets becoming uninhabitable.” Pollution reached horrific levels.

Faced with such social and economic turmoil, how have Jehovah’s Witnesses in the former G.D.R. managed?

Keeping the Eye Properly Focused

Jehovah’s Witnesses have no ideological frontiers. Their Bible-based faith is the same, whether in East or West. With their social environment in transition, most Witnesses maintain spiritual balance by keeping their eyes riveted on the prime goal of serving Jehovah. Why is this imperative?

Because “the scene of this world is changing.” (1 Corinthians 7:31) One Christian elder remarks that preaching under ban prior to the Wende required courage; it taught the Witnesses to rely on Jehovah and trained them in handling the Bible. Now, however, “we have to be more careful not to be sidetracked by materialism and the anxieties of life.”

Freedom and progress are often measured in material terms. Many people in this region feel a need to make up for lost time or maybe lost pleasures. This becomes clear when one is driving along the cobblestone roads in the towns and villages of Thuringia and Saxony in the south. The roads may be in need of repair, the dwellings modest, but what a plethora there is of television satellite dishes! It is easy for a person to be duped into believing that security and happiness result from having everything the eye sees. What a dangerous trap that is!

In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus spoke about the dangers of paying undue attention to material things and to the anxieties of life. “Stop storing up for yourselves treasures upon the earth,” he cautioned. He added: “The lamp of the body is the eye. If, then, your eye is simple, your whole body will be bright.” (Matthew 6:19, 22) What did he mean? A simple eye is one that is in focus and that transmits clear images to the mind. A spiritual eye that is simple keeps the image of God’s Kingdom clear. So a Christian’s resolve to keep his eye simple, clearly focused on the Kingdom of God, and to relegate anxieties to the background helps to keep him spiritually balanced.

This can be illustrated by the experience of a couple from Zwickau, Saxony, who showed interest in the Bible at the time of the Wende. Their business was very time-consuming, yet they put spiritual interests first, attending all Christian meetings. “From the point of view of our business, we cannot afford the time,” they admitted, “but spiritually we need it.” What a wise decision!

Consider, too, a family in Plauen, also in Saxony. The husband was a watchmaker, a master craftsman with his own business. Following the Wende, the rent for his premises increased sharply. What should he do? “It would cost a lot of money, and I learned the truth to live for the truth.” So he moved into premises less well-situated but with a lower rent. Yes, the watchmaker learned very quickly about keeping his eye simple.

A few, though, learned too late. One Christian elder, reasoning that the newly introduced free-market economy was full of promise, went into business. A traveling overseer kindly urged him not to let business commitments crowd out spirituality. Yet, sadly, that is what happened. Some months later the brother resigned as an elder. He later wrote: “Based on my own experience, I would advise any brother who is reaching out for service privileges not to go into business on his own.” This does not mean that being self-employed is wrong for a Christian. But whether we have our own business or not, paying too much attention to economic anxieties can make us involuntary slaves of wealth. Jesus showed the outcome: “No one can slave for two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will stick to the one and despise the other.” (Matthew 6:24) The German poet Goethe stated: “None are more hopelessly enslaved than those who falsely believe they are free.”

Being caught in a literal storm may require us to squint or cup our hands around our eyes to keep our goal in sight. When surrounded by political, economic, or social turmoil, concentration is necessary to keep our spiritual goal in view. What are some Christians doing to keep their eye simple in Kingdom work?

Increased Kingdom Activity

All over the former G.D.R., Witnesses are devoting more time to preaching than ever before. In the last two years, the average time spent in field service rose by 21 percent. The result is a dramatic 34-percent increase in home Bible studies. Furthermore, the number of regular pioneers is currently four times as high as it was just two years ago! While others worry and complain, more than 23,000 Christians in what was hitherto the G.D.R. are coping with the situation by keeping their eye simple. This has contributed to the astonishing increase in Kingdom activity.—Compare Joshua 6:15.

The expanded activity means that the territory is being well cared for in the south, where the majority of Witnesses live. Many of the place-names have a historic ring. If you are fond of fine china, you will recognize the town of Meissen, near Dresden, as the origin of some of the world’s most delicate porcelain. Meissen is now the home of some 130 Kingdom publishers. Or consider Weimar, “the classical capital of Germany.” The Goethe-Schiller Memorial in the town center testifies to Weimar’s dignified connections with those two writers and is a source of pride for many there. Today Weimar can be proud of its over 150 publishers of the good news.

In the north, however, things are very different, with fewer publishers and greater distances between congregations. Particularly are jobs scarce. Many who have work are under pressure to stay overtime so as to keep their job. One brother serving as a full-time preacher in the north explains: “Under ban each brother needed Jehovah’s protection in field service, but finding a job was not difficult. Now it’s the other way around. We have freedom to preach, but we need his guidance with regard to employment. Such a change takes quite some getting used to.”

Are the publishers pleased to be able to preach more often? Wolfgang’s view is: “It is far better for the same publisher to work the same territory over and over again. People grow to trust him and are more open.” Apart from that, householders are “no longer embarrassed to talk about religion at the door, even when passersby are within hearing distance. Religion is not a taboo subject anymore.” Ralf and Martina agree. “We enjoy working our territory more frequently. We can get to know people personally and are also thrilled about the wide variety of literature available.”

Appreciation for Our Literature

Ralf and Martina especially appreciate the book Life—How Did It Get Here? By Evolution or by Creation? For the many who embraced atheism in the former G.D.R., this book is proving to be a wonderful Bible study aid. They also wished for a shorter publication containing similar material. “How excited we were at the release of the brochure Does God Really Care About Us? at the 1992 ‘Light Bearers’ District Convention in Dresden. It was an answer to our prayers.”

Many non-Witnesses have come to admire the Watch Tower publications. In July 1992 a lecturer in social education wrote to express her “highest respect and warmest thanks” for the publications, which she uses to prepare lectures. In January 1992 a lady in Rostock accepted a copy of the book You Can Live Forever in Paradise on Earth from two Witnesses who came to her door. She wrote to the Germany branch office: “I belong to the Lutheran Church. I have the highest regard for the activities of the organization of Jehovah’s Witnesses. They state resolutely that man can no longer exist without God’s guidance.”

How much spiritual guidance have Christendom’s churches given their members? The prestigious newspaper Die Zeit commented in December 1991 that whereas the Lutheran Church had “basked in glory for a short time as mother of the peaceful revolution, its public rating seems to be sinking rapidly.” Indeed, a representative of the Lutheran Church lamented: “People confused life in the free-market system with paradise.” A church member in Magdeburg wrote requesting information. Why? “After years of smiling in disbelief,” wrote the gentleman, “I am now firmly convinced that this world is at its relative end and that we shall encounter great troubles in the near future.”—2 Timothy 3:1-5.

Building for Expansion

Prior to the Wende, Kingdom Halls were not allowed in the G.D.R. Now they are urgently needed; building them is being given priority. This is another aspect of true worship that has undergone remarkable transition. The experience of one brother illustrates just how rapid this change has been.

In March 1990, just hours after Jehovah’s Witnesses received legal recognition in the G.D.R., a brother was invited to address a group of Witnesses, using a microphone for the first time in his life. Two and a half years later, the congregation he associates with dedicated a brand-new Kingdom Hall. By the end of 1992, seven Kingdom Halls had been constructed for 16 congregations. Over 30 others, as well as an attractive Assembly Hall, are in the planning stage.

Eye Fixed on God’s Kingdom

“Shortly after the Wende,” remarks a Christian elder, “many people rejected the Bible. They placed their hope in the new government, which held out a promise of better conditions at last.” Was their hope fulfilled? “Within two years they changed their minds. People now agree with us that human governments can never bring about peace and righteousness.”

Multitudes rejoiced at the eclipse of rigid socialism in the G.D.R., heralding what they considered to be a golden dawn of Western ideology. But they were disappointed. Regardless of what government is in power, Jehovah’s Witnesses keep their eye simple and firmly fixed on God’s Kingdom, which shines like a star in the heavens. Such hope will never lead to disappointment.—Romans 5:5.

[Footnotes]

See “Jehovah Cared for Us Under Ban,” Parts 1-3, in The Watchtower issues of April 15, May 1, and May 15, 1992.