Here lies a profound truth for the ages: When Satan thought he had triumphed over Jesus, he had actually suffered a great defeat. Being born into this world comes with facing unpredictable conditions. Some individuals confront death when mothers consider abortions, while others endure childhood abuse and illnesses. Adult life presents challenges like marital conflicts and wars instigated by others. A person enters a world affected by forces beyond their control, merely a product of their parents, with no claim over the factors that have shaped their environment. Yet, the conditions of that very environment define who the person will become.
Life can be described as achieving success amidst unpredictable circumstances. To succumb means to yield to an overpowering environment, yet success is attainable through taking charge of prevailing conditions. A failed abortion may signify a triumph for life, although the fate of many potential lives is decided by abortionists. This encompasses perishing with expectant mothers, due to various causes. There are instances where individuals can assert control over their own circumstances. Meanwhile, some people attribute their destiny to God, although unable to define God. What remains elusive for them is the ability to control their circumstances.
Nelson Mandela’s life was marked by unpredictability during his imprisonment on Robin Island. While many of his comrades perished, he endured to ultimately experience freedom after twenty-seven years. His ‘crime’ was his desire for a liberated South Africa where all individuals were treated equally. Mandela is hailed as a symbol of freedom, having lived to witness the freedom he fought for before his passing. His life exemplifies the triumph of the human spirit over the forces that seek to suppress it. However, it must be noted that, even with his considered sterling legacy, Mandela’s achievements are due to the physical world being unpredictable.
Depending on his enduring attitude to life, Mandela could still be a loser, if unaware of life being a spiritual component. Countless failures mark life, yet the sum of these failures often dictates what ultimately succeeds. Every individual is moulded by their life experiences, which are invariably shaped by failures. Fundamentally, a failed abortion results in the successful existence of a person. A stunted plant may be the result of its struggle in rocky soil—similarly, the success of an individual hinges on their resilience in the face of daunting experiences.
Human life is often viewed as being under divine guidance, especially for those who identify with a Godly heritage. The narrative of Joseph is told of someone aware of God’s existence. He encountered insurmountable challenges throughout his life, yet ultimately he triumphed and even saved the lives of those who had intended to end his. Joseph’s success was not due to his own efforts against the adversities he faced. Instead, he surrendered to the higher power that he recognized as the source of life. His adversaries might have seemed victorious at first, but in the end, Joseph had the final triumph.
The narrative of Jesus is another profound affirmation that humanity’s destiny lies more in the spiritual realm than in the physical. When His foes believed they had terminated His existence, Jesus was resurrected, becoming inaccessible to those adversaries. Jesus did not oppose those who aimed to end His life but proclaimed Himself as the way, the truth, and the life. He instructed His disciples to love their enemies—a counsel often equated with defeat. Jesus’ conduct offers a timeless key to life, although commonly misunderstood by mortal beings.
From that time Jesus began to show to His disciples that He must go to Jerusalem, and suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised the third day. Then Peter took Him aside and began to rebuke Him, saying, “Far be it from You, Lord; this shall not happen to You!” But He turned and said to Peter, “Get behind Me, Satan! You are an offence to Me, for you are not mindful of the things of God, but the things of men.”
Then Jesus said to His disciples, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it. For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?” (Matthew 16:21-26 NKJV).
In the eyes of the world, Peter’s behaviour cannot be deemed mischievous enough to justify Jesus’ reprimand. Yet, when success is defined as an ultimate survival, Jesus’ rebuke serves as a guide in understanding true success. Physical failure should be seen as significant in the pursuit of life. Winning physically should be viewed as a loss while losing physically suggests the acquisition of life. This interaction between Jesus and Peter encapsulates the essence of life.
A child born into this world, confronted with myriad challenges and striving for survival only succeeds by resisting the desires of the flesh. This world often equates success with the defeat of one’s foes, yet Jesus defines success as the love for one’s enemies. Those who are lauded for overcoming their adversaries also meet their end, having attained only fleeting triumphs symbolized by such conquests. The achievement of eternal life surpasses all earthly accomplishments, the absence of which clears the path for spiritual endurance.
It appears that a singular goal unites humanity, and that goal is survival. The Roman Empire may have been the longest-lasting of all empires in history. However, despite their historical dominance, such empires have little to show but ephemeral victories that ultimately subvert their original aims. Like all other great empires, the splendour of the Roman Empire now lives only in history books. The enduring empire is embodied by the legacy of Jesus, who permitted His adversaries to crucify Him, only to rise again thereafter.
We inhabit a world where it’s deemed normal for others to judge the success of one’s life. By prevailing standards, Jesus’ surrender to crucifixion doesn’t qualify Him as a man of valour. Likewise, the early disciples aren’t seen as heroes since they didn’t resist their adversaries’ malevolent actions. To be considered heroic, in this world, one is expected to perish in combat or at least, take many lives in self-defence. However, Jesus’ demeanour underscores the perceived principles of appropriate conduct when confronting life’s challenges.
Failures are not truly failures as long as we recognize that physical life is finite. Whether one dies a hero or a pauper, both will pass away and eventually be forgotten. The memories of past events are destined to fade, swiftly replaced by new ideas. Resistance to change can lead to being outdated, whereas embracing change ensures a rejuvenation that strengthens one’s confidence in the future. The purpose of life is to persistently nurture hope and invigorate the potential of what lies ahead. True life is defined in the ultimate, not what currently prevails.
Failure is often the most feared phenomenon in the world, yet there is more hope in failing than in the presumed safety of inaction. The narrative of Abraham may not resonate with those who do not grasp the complexities of life. Abraham found favour with God but passed away without receiving the promised blessings. Abraham was a dismal failure to his contemporaries, preoccupied with tangible matters. Nevertheless, Abraham’s legacy is celebrated and recognized for its significance by those alive today.
The dead cannot comprehend what those living understand. Only those who are alive can truly value the pursuit of life’s endeavours over the concerns of death. A dead person is introspective, whereas a living person looks beyond themselves. Someone fixated on death may believe they benefit more from receiving than giving. Yet, life thrives on the principle of generosity over the fixation on acquisition. A person can be as dead as he is introverted, while a living person is as alive as he or she is extroverted. These are inviolable principles in this universe.
The survival of a particular crop does not lie in its storage within silos, but rather in its planting in the soil. It must decompose in the earth before it can sprout and yield a more vigorous crop. Its perpetuation is secured through the cycle of renewal. Similarly, the essence of a person is maintained not by what they receive, but by their propensity to give. The ease found in receiving undermines the potential for endurance, for it is through one’s contributions that a legacy endures. Hence, giving is more blessed than to receive (Acts 20:35).
Adam’s failure is often attributed to his choice of the forbidden fruit in the Garden of Eden. Yet, if Adam had refrained from taking the fruit, it can be argued that the essential goal of advancing humanity would have been compromised. Without Adam’s considered abominable act, the awareness of physical existence might have remained elusive to mankind. Today, the consequences of a life devoid of divine guidance are evident through the widespread shortcomings observed in the world. Hence the adage, “When what you receive is not what you desire, then what you receive becomes the experience.”
A horse rider living in fear of falling off cannot succeed in entertaining through horse riding. Conversely, a rider who has fallen numerous times gains experience that diminishes the fear of riding. For such a rider, falling is part of the enjoyment, thanks to the experience gained from multiple falls. This principle applies to various life experiences. Paul credited his successes more to his weaknesses than to his triumphant deeds.
Life’s existence often highlights failure more than presumed success. Without recognizing the advantages of failure, one remains entrenched in confusion. The advent of Jesus offers hope to mankind. Yet, the inability to seize this opportunity stems from the inability to recognize that the essence of physical failure invigorates the spiritual essence. The greater one’s reliance on physical life, the further one drifts from salvation. Entertaining the attainment of salvation requires a willingness to fail.
“Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee stood up and prayed about himself: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other men—robbers, evildoers, adulterers—or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get.’ But the tax collector stood at a distance. He would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said, ‘God, have mercy on me, a sinner.’ I tell you that this man, rather than the other, went home justified before God. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted” (Luke 18:10-14 NIV).
The Pharisee is portrayed as presuming himself to be successful, whereas the tax collector considers himself a pitiful failure in obeying God. Jesus then highlights that it is the tax collector’s perceived failure which garners mercy, not the ostensibly successful law-abider. A person remains on a misguided path as long as they rest in the comfort of success. Yet, there is hope for the one who persistently acknowledges their shortcomings in the sight of God.
This narrative suggests that humility, essential for salvation, emerges from failure rather than success. Jesus taught that with faith as small as a mustard seed, nothing is impossible. It requires a person unafraid of failure to undertake tasks deemed unattainable. Such a person may be ridiculed for apparent failures in their gigantic pursuits. Yet, they achieve success through the humility these failures instil. Failures are valuable as they foster an awareness of our fallibility.
Physical existence represents merely a fraction of human potential. Those who believe this fraction encompasses all there is to life are mistaken, oblivious to their full potential within God’s Kingdom. Few are willing to subject themselves to shame; most prefer to be seen as superior rather than inferior to others. The tax collector who admitted to being the worst sinner received the Lord’s mercy, unlike the law-abiding Pharisee.
The intention is not to suggest that God condones sin, but rather to illustrate that salvation is not attainable through pride. Humanity was deemed fallen following the first couple’s erroneous choice in the Garden of Eden. Without acknowledging Adam’s pivotal mistake, salvation remains unattainable for anyone. Conversely, accepting responsibility for such failings steers one towards the path of redemption.
Present to me, the most successful individual in this life, and I will point out the most miserable failure. Conversely, present to me, the most miserable failure, and I will reveal the most successful individual. This parallels the perception of Jesus as a weakling dying in misery on the cross, where, in actual fact, his true success was cemented. The entire Bible seeks to clarify this concept, which only a minuscule minority can grasp.
The fear of failure is an intensely negative emotion in life. Yet, with the knowledge that Jesus has overcome the world, one’s fears are dispelled. Embracing life while also being prepared to forfeit all for Christ becomes more conceivable. The greatest peril is in holding on to past triumphs. Failures should bring joy to those who are conscious of the supreme glory promised to Christians, to be fulfilled at the final trumpet.
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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