Often overlooked is the role of communication in people’s lives. When effectively utilized, communication can address many, if not all, of humanity’s challenges. A mother communicating effectively with her toddler sets the child on a path to greater achievements. Such a child has the potential to overcome numerous obstacles. God is manifested in human beings. As God, represented in humanity, is all-knowing, there is much to learn from other fellow humans. The ability to know as much as God does lies in restructuring and effectively using communication among humans. Since God made it clear that humans are created in God’s image, why do humans overlook each other when seeking answers?
One of humanity’s gravest errors is the assumption that God is unaware of the world’s contemptible facets. Many issues are kept from public view for the sake of convenience. The choice of what to disclose often depends on the vanity of those considered respectable in societies. The glorification of certain individuals at the cost of others has long been a scourge on humanity. An omniscient God knows every clandestine decision. Eventually, deceit will be revealed and cease to impact human well-being. Remove all deceitfulness; the majority of problems affecting humanity would be solved.
Individuals with mental impairments, who find shelter in the woods, are not beyond God’s awareness of their plight. The clandestine agendas of malevolent individuals may be repulsive, yet God permits all things for a reason, just as He tolerates the machinations of Satan that afflict seemingly defenceless humanity. The gravest error lies in focusing on the actions of others rather than reflecting on one’s own contributions to effect positive change. The adverse conditions in this world necessitate transformation by those who embrace the mantle of responsibility; without such action, no change can ever occur.
Ignorant individuals can negatively affect one another. Conversely, when knowledgeable people engage in discussions, they can effectively address existing problems. But where can we find these knowledgeable people? Every individual, irrespective of their status and background, possesses unique knowledge unknown to others. Yet, that same individual may lack knowledge in other certain areas, necessitating guidance from those informed in those specific fields. This interdependence is a fundamental aspect of life when viewed without the distortions of pride.
The apostle John disclosed this in one of his letters, but many find it too intricate, mistaking it for a mere religious assertion. Yet, what John articulated is a verifiable truth, accessible to anyone determined to test its validity. Every human being is created in God’s likeness. Hence, every individual ought to be viewed as possessing insights into human dilemmas. Each person should be seen as a channel for solutions to any situation deemed challenging.
“No one has seen God at any time. If we love one another, God abides in us, and His love has been perfected in us. By this, we know that we abide in Him, and He in us, because He has given us His Spirit. And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent the Son as Savior of the world. Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God. And we have known and believed the love that God has for us. God is love, and he who abides in love abides in God, and God in him.
“Love has been perfected among us in this: that we may have boldness in the day of judgment; because as He is, so are we in this world. There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear because fear involves torment. But he who fears has not been made perfect in love. We love Him because He first loved us. If someone says, “I love God,” and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen, how can he love God whom he has not seen? And this commandment we have from Him: that he who loves God must love his brother also” (1 John 4:12-21 NKJV).
Many are unaware that even a small baby holds knowledge unknown to its mother. Within that toddler, one can observe the image of God. It is natural for mothers to reason for their children, causing babies to suppress their awareness in favour of maternal guidance. Mothers fail to see their children as representations of God’s image. This pattern is prevalent among all individuals influenced by others, due to a misunderstanding of the conditions that sustain humanity. The potential of any individual remains an enigma, even to the most profound thinkers. Although often viewed as mere animals, humans are actually manifestations of a higher power, with their untapped potential evident in each person.
God is as present and aware of the events in everyone’s life as He is of the solutions to existing problems. A person who reflects on the lives of others possesses a power akin to knowing God. Instead of focusing on the supernatural, it would be beneficial for humans to address the problems in their immediate environment. If every individual took responsibility for picking up litter in their vicinity, imagine the impact if everyone did the same. We must address the root causes of our communities’ inability to tackle such issues. In Zimbabwe, for example, all problems are often attributed to the state president. His decisions are criticized without acknowledging that he does not operate in isolation from the people around him.
The roots of idolatry lie in the belief that some individuals are inherently superior to others. Often, human idolization is driven by ignorance rather than knowledge. The prophets chosen by God were not revered but regarded as outcasts. A prophet may become significant due to the wisdom shared, yet this does not necessarily lead to idolization. Indeed, the genuine servants of God are met with disdain rather than adoration. This pattern has persisted over time. However, it is acknowledged that Jesus holds a place above all others, even those deemed as God’s children following His ascension. But Jesus was speaking from a spiritual point of view.
“Assuredly, I say to you, among those born of women there has not risen one greater than John the Baptist; but he who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he” (Matthew 11:11 NKJV).
No records exist of anyone, apart from Jesus’ followers, who recognized the omniscience of God during Jesus’ time, as reflected in His teachings. Today, there are many true servants of God, affirming His omniscience, yet, as Jesus stated, such God’s servants encounter severe rejection. Humans are often predisposed to oppose anything related to God. They perceive God as a miraculous existence, yet God is manifested in their lives, provided they recognize being made in God’s image. Thus, it is illogical for them to reject the notion of another person embodying God.
“Abraham said to him, ‘They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them.’ And he said, ‘No, Father Abraham; but if one goes to them from the dead, they will repent.’ But he said to him, ‘If they do not hear Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded though one rise from the dead’ ” (Luke 16:29-31 NKJV).
The above statement is as valid as the testimony of Jesus’ resurrection confirms it. He rose from the dead, yet the number of true believers remains a question. Many may affectionately invoke His name, but few truly believe in His teachings. Miracles may be abundant, yet they do not impart the knowledge of God’s omniscience. Idolization often seems more attractive to those who prefer to worship others, while invalidating others. Some individuals are regarded as superior, while others are seen as inferior. This notion, however, conflicts with the belief that all humans are created in the image of God.
“But I know you, that you do not have the love of God in you. I have come in My Father’s name, and you do not receive Me; if another comes in his own name, him you will receive. How can you believe those who receive honour from one another, and do not seek the honour that comes from the only God? Do not think that I shall accuse you to the Father; there is one who accuses you—Moses, in whom you trust” (John 5:42-45 NKJV)
The fundamental inconsistency arises from the failure to acknowledge that each person is fashioned in God’s likeness. While individuals often admire others, they also believe that being admired is an aspiration. People find satisfaction in admiration, rather than in the contributions that earn it. The magnificence of God lies in His recognition as a Giver. Conversely, human frailty is evident in the preference for receiving over giving. The concept of idol worship stems from the desire to receive, where blessings become the sustenance of life in this world.
Those who boast about material blessings in this world display a deep misunderstanding of the divine. They see themselves as beings designed to garner God’s favour through their appearance. Observing such boasts about physical possessions is distasteful. The revulsion stems not from a desire to match their wealth, but from their obliviousness to their own ignorance. Yet, attempts to disdain such ignorance often lead to misinterpretations of envy towards the flaunted wealth.
Understanding God begins with the recognition of oneself as a child of God. This understanding extends to acknowledging that others too, mirror God’s image. When individuals fail to see themselves as representations of God’s image, we have to enlighten them. This reflects the situation of Jesus during His time on earth, where He encountered people who believed that greatness should be worshipped and sacrificed for. Simon received a harsh reprimand for not grasping the spiritual principle that contradicts the physical one.
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).
The above Scripture can be projected as key to understanding the aspect of Christianity. Peter displayed a behaviour often attributed to humans, similar to an animal’s instinct to protect its kin. It is common for animals to support their relatives, a behaviour seen as a show of solidarity. This concept is also embraced within Christian communities. The disciples followed Jesus as students rather than protectors. Jesus’ reprimand of Peter suggests that He did not desire physical protection. This incident highlights Jesus’ emphasis on the separation between divine providence and human intervention. This differs from the expectation that one must deny oneself to grasp the spiritual concept. Understanding that verse is fundamental to Christianity (Verse 25).
God may be mysterious to many, yet as accessible as in oneself and others. The inability to comprehend one’s fellow humans lies on the individual. This embodies the essence of self-sacrifice for others, without anticipation of reciprocation. God’s presence is as tangible as the accessibility of others in one’s environment. The crucial question then becomes how to initiate communication with those individuals. Understanding a person’s confusion is necessary before effectively aiding them out of their troubles.
The concept of enmity is absent from a Christian’s vocabulary. Armed with the Holy Spirit, such an individual can transform situations of hostility into opportunities for peace. In our lives, we have mourned the loss of friends and foes alike. Our concerns often lie with those who departed before we had the chance for reconciliation. Jesus emphasized forgiveness as a key element of prayer due to the responsibility that accompanies the honour of being a Christian. Embracing the virtue of humility brings about a sense of safety.
Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into His hands and that He had come from God and was going to God, rose from supper and laid aside His garments, took a towel and girded Himself. After that, He poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples’ feet, and to wipe them with the towel with which He was girded. Then He came to Simon Peter. And Peter said to Him, “Lord, are You washing my feet?” Jesus answered and said to him, “What I am doing you do not understand now, but you will know after this.”
Peter said to Him, “You shall never wash my feet!” Jesus answered him, “If I do not wash you, you have no part with Me.” Simon Peter said to Him, “Lord, not my feet only, but also my hands and my head!” Jesus said to him, “He who is bathed needs only to wash his feet but is completely clean, and you are clean, but not all of you.” For He knew who would betray Him; therefore He said, “You are not all clean.”
So when He had washed their feet, taken His garments, and sat down again, He said to them, “Do you know what I have done to you? You call Me Teacher and Lord, and you say well, for so I am. If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. For I have given you an example, that you should do as I have done to you. Most assuredly, I say to you, a servant is not greater than his master; nor is he who is sent greater than he who sent him. If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them” (John 13:1-17 NKJV).
Contrary to the widespread belief that foot-washing was a ritual to be performed regularly, at intervals, it actually embodied a Christian principle. The actions Jesus spoke of were not about ceremonial observance but about the anticipated behaviour within Christianity. Serving others goes beyond the symbolic act of washing feet, which was selected for its humbling connotation. Jesus conveyed that embracing and applying these principles would result in blessings, in stark contrast to a life of ease and assumed dominance over others. Furthermore, the concepts of God’s omniscience and omnipresence are intertwined with human existence.
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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