But we have renounced the hidden things of shame, not walking in craftiness nor handling the word of God deceitfully, but by manifestation of the truth commending ourselves to every man’s conscience in the sight of God. But even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing, whose minds the god of this age has blinded, who do not believe, lest the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine on them. For we do not preach ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord, and ourselves your bondservants for Jesus’ sake” (2 Corinthians 4:2-5 NKJV).
Some people question the existence of Satan, as he is not visible to the naked eye. Nonetheless, the Bible explicitly affirms the existence of Satan, just as it does the existence of God and Jesus Christ. Satan is depicted as a former cherub who defied God, potentially trillions of years ago. He was the first to dwell in this world, before the creation of humankind. The narrative from the first chapter of Genesis provides insights into Satan’s activities. It also provides reasons why humans are on a planet beleaguered by Satan.
“In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. The earth was without form and void, and darkness was over the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters” (Genesis 1:1-2 ESV).
The original Hebrew translation suggests that the earth was formless, implying a state of aftermath. The first verse speaks of ‘the beginning,’ a temporal condition relevant solely to the physical universe. This phrase simply depicts the state of the earth, as God intended to render the concept understandable to humans. Time, as a metric of change, holds significance only in the physical domain. Through Moses, God imparted sufficient knowledge for human comprehension.
The implied commencement may suggest the condition in which God intended to re-establish order from the disorder that emerged after Satan’s insurrection. The duality that emerges in the Bible’s prophetic stories is particularly intriguing. A recurring motif of types and antitypes can be found throughout the scriptures, reflecting the duality inherent in human nature. The fall of Satan is portrayed as originating from his state of righteousness, previously identified as Lucifer, in Isaiah 14:12-15 and Ezekiel 28:12-15. However, John also depicts a futuristic Satan, expelled from the heavenly domain to wreak havoc upon God’s people.
“Now war arose in heaven, Michael and his angels fighting against the dragon. And the dragon and his angels fought back, but he was defeated, and there was no longer any place for them in heaven. And the great dragon was thrown down, that ancient serpent, who is called the devil and Satan, the deceiver of the whole world—he was thrown down to the earth, and his angels were thrown down with him” (Revelation 12:7-9 ESV).
The described narrative suggests a future event, yet it echoes historical accounts of Satan causing disorder on Earth. These past events may not hold significance for us as physical entities, but it is understood that Satan defied God from a position of honour. He represents the spiritual counterpoint to God and may still maintain a complex relationship with Him, whose methods are beyond our comprehension. It is evident that the Earth, as created in Genesis 1:1, fell into chaos due to Satan’s peculiar actions, with his emphasis being on destruction rather than construction.
“How you are fallen from heaven, O Day Star, son of Dawn! How you are cut down to the ground, you who laid the nations low! You said in your heart, ‘I will ascend to heaven; above the stars of God I will set my throne on high; I will sit on the mount of assembly in the far reaches of the north; I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will make myself like the Most High.’ But you are brought down to Sheol, to the far reaches of the pit” (Isaiah 14:12-15 ESV).
“Son of man, raise a lamentation over the king of Tyre, and say to him, Thus says the Lord God: ‘You were the signet of perfection, full of wisdom and perfect in beauty. You were in Eden, the garden of God; every precious stone was your covering, sardius, topaz, diamond, beryl, onyx, jasper, sapphire, emerald, and carbuncle; and crafted in gold were your settings and your engravings. On the day that you were created, they were prepared. You were an anointed guardian cherub. I placed you; you were on the holy mountain of God; amid the stones of fire, you walked. You were blameless in your ways from the day you were created, till unrighteousness was found in you’” (Ezekiel 28:12-15 ESV)
The aforementioned passages reflect on historical events while also highlighting a future event underscored by John. The significance of John’s prophecy is rooted in the anticipated devastation by Satan, predicted to unfold shortly before the second advent of Jesus. The Book of Revelation delivers a prophecy that reveals a preview of forthcoming events. In contrast, the Book of Genesis recounts a tale of renewal after a time of turmoil. Genesis 1:3-25 describes the restoration of order from the chaos mentioned in Genesis 1:2. Following this account, God creates humankind in His own image and entrusts them with the stewardship of the Earth (Genesis 1:26-27).
Humanity has been entrusted with the role of stewardship and is currently in the developmental stage of embracing this responsibility. The scenario is comparable to an apprentice poised to take over a business. Initially, humanity, represented by Adam, is expected to learn humility. After gaining mastery, humanity takes on leadership through the redemptive actions of Jesus. This implies that Adam represents a system under development, while Jesus signifies the shift from this initial stage, pre-empting Satan’s potential to lead Earth to destruction. Thus, Jesus should be seen not just as an individual, but as a figure emblematic of a system, similar to how Adam is viewed. A human being is seen as an embodiment of God in progress.
Prophetically depicted as King of Tyre in Ezekiel’s prophecy, Lucifer had been one of the anointed cherubs, until unrighteousness was found in him. This kind of unrighteousness is depicted as having attracted him to be introverted. He saw himself as qualified to be on the throne of God. However, God created Humans in His own image, to replace Satan’s envied position. Interestingly, Satan was used to develop humanity to the state that qualifies them to be like God. While Satan may have originally been poised to be the ruler, he had to be dethroned. In his place, a God-like character had to be created.
Matthew 25:32-46 highlights the events of the Day of Judgment. It portrays a group known as ‘sheep’ on the right side, labelled as ‘righteous’ and deserving of God’s Kingdom. Conversely, the ‘goats’ are positioned on the left, symbolizing the chaff separated from the wheat to be burned. A person who fails to fulfil their intended purpose is deemed unfit for anything. Jesus often stressed to those who neglected His teachings for salvation that once salt loses its flavour, it cannot become salty again.
Satan is considered to be the ruler of this world. When he tempted Jesus, offering Him the kingdoms of the world (Matthew 4:8-9), he was not lying about the authority he possessed. If Jesus had yielded, similarly to Adam’s yield, there would be no chance for salvation, only the perpetuation of the already corrupt civilization. It is believed that Satan influences the minds of the world’s authoritarian governments. The real issue is their inability to foresee the consequences of their malevolent deeds, which results in a persistent adherence to their authoritarian viewpoints.
The concept of Satan often represents the temptation to feel superior to others. This mindset, while widespread, is believed to originate from Satan. It is irrelevant whether one views their race as superior, or themselves as more attractive than others. It might also manifest as a failure to emulate Jesus despite understanding the teachings of God’s Kingdom. Feeling esteemed by others may be gratifying, but it can also lead to a loss of humility that grants dignity.
While many are exhilarated by promotion, its underlying ambition is not divinely inspired. Jesus taught that true greatness among His followers is measured by their service to others. The thrill often associated with a promotion can elicit a sense of pride that might be unnoticed by the individual. The primary role of the physical body is considered to be one of sacrifice. Therefore, any happiness stemming from promotion could be seen as misplaced. The body is intended for service, not for garnering praise from others. Avoiding joy after receiving a promotion is deemed inappropriate, even for Church leaders who profess to seek higher goals. Paul likens Christianity to a form of dying, indicating a profound transformation similar to death.
Those who are in the flesh cannot please God. You, however, are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if the Spirit of God dwells in you. Anyone who does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to him. But if Christ is in you, although the body is dead because of sin, the Spirit is life because of righteousness. If the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit who dwells in you” (Romans 8:8-11 ESV).
However, Paul states, “The god of this age has blinded those who do not believe, lest the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine on them” (2 Corinthians 4:4). He identifies pride as the blinding force. No matter how loudly God’s message is proclaimed, the proud are bound to reject it. They dismiss the messenger, unaware that in doing so, they also dismiss God, with whom they believe themselves to be aligned. Tragically, nothing else seems capable of changing them. Consider those who crucified Jesus; they were likely convinced of their righteousness. Yet, even after Jesus’ resurrection, they remained unbelieving.
They held the belief that divine revelation is a product of human intellect. For instance, Pride hinders one’s ability to listen in this manner: God chooses a person of lower status to disclose insights from His teachings. Their pride persuades them that God would not impart wisdom to the lesser, without first conferring with them. No matter the veracity, any statement made is deemed false, predicated on their self-assigned precedence in receiving knowledge over someone deemed insignificant. Addressing the Pharisees, Jesus stated, “If you were blind, you would not be guilty of sin; but now that you claim you can see, your guilt remains” (John 9:41).
The pride one harbors portrays the god of this world as an active participant. For many, life’s goal is to outsmart one’s peers. Pride emerges from the conviction that one is superior to others, which is ultimate foolishness, yet often mistaken for the pinnacle of intelligence. Envy, anger, and conceit usually arise from this viewpoint, even among those without grounds for pride. Possessions or lack of them is irrelevant; pride is a shortcoming that plagues all who lack the grace of Christ. Turning to drug abuse or alcohol is commonly caused by failure to meet one’s own standards of worth, after battling with depression. Pride is the root of all other human frailties, confirming our inherent sinfulness.
“But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law. Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God” (Galatians 5:16-21 ESV).
Walking by the Spirit implies engaging in benefitting others ahead of self-interests. This may resemble self-denial, but it is distinct because it centres on adding value to others without expecting reciprocation. Self-denial stems from a sense of personal unworthiness and elevates others as more deserving. Walking in the Spirit includes exercising authority on principles, and accepting responsibility without attributing fault to others. This mirrors Jesus’ approach, who was resolute and unwavering. Jesus spoke with authority and remained unwavering in the truth. However, this demeanour may be misinterpreted as arrogance by those who are themselves, arrogant and feel intimidated by the presence of such a truthful personality.
An individual who prioritizes truth may disregard customs and traditions, focusing only on factual information while remaining open to criticism. This person is ready to change their stance upon encountering verifiable facts. Their readiness to acknowledge mistakes contributes to their happiness, as they are always willing to admit their errors. Conversely, a prideful person takes offence when their errors are exposed. They take comfort in their achievements and may perceive the success of others as threatening. This attitude can lead to feelings of sadness and depression, which results in vices referred to in the cited scriptural text.
Andrew Masuku is the author of Dimensions of a New Civilization, laying down standards for uplifting Zimbabwe from the current state of economic depression into a model for other nations worldwide. A decaying tree provides an opportunity for a blossoming sprout. Written from a Christian perspective, the book is a product of inspiration, bringing relief to those having witnessed the strings of unworkable solutions––leading to the current economic and social decay. Most Zimbabweans should find the book as a long-awaited providential oasis of hope, in a simple conversational tone.
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