The excitement in life is as varied as the people who experience it. For some, it’s as simple as watching the waves at the beach. For others, the thrill comes from making money, while some are content with a simple existence. Criminals find excitement in plotting their next move, while scholars find it in uncovering new knowledge that benefits humanity. Even in poverty, life can be thrilling, as the instinct to survive prevails. Fame and recognition are the ultimate thrill for those driven by ambition.
For some people, life without the discovery of new ideas would lack purpose. However, death is the great equalizer, inevitable for everyone, regardless of status or age. Some are mourned more than others, but it doesn’t alter the fact of their passing, regardless of their status and conditions. Understanding one’s purpose is a spiritual quest for many, and life’s meaning is lost if one lives only for self-gratification. Fame often becomes the lure for those seeking a legacy. Yet life holds more value than what is often pursued in the physical realm.
Wealth is often seen as a ticket to happiness, enabling the pursuit of excitement. Yet, the irony is that illness can strip away the ability to enjoy wealth, and death can leave one’s hard-earned fortune to be squandered by others. This was the essence of King Solomon’s reflections on the futility of accumulating wealth. This prompts reflection on the importance of physical existence.
“I also gathered for myself silver and gold and the special treasures of kings and of the provinces. I acquired male and female singers, the delights of the sons of men, and musical instruments of all kinds. So I became great and excelled more than all who were before me in Jerusalem. Also, my wisdom remained with me. Whatever my eyes desired I did not keep from them. I did not withhold my heart from any pleasure, For my heart rejoiced in all my labour; And this was my reward from all my labour. Then I looked on all the works that my hands had done And on the labour in which I had toiled, And indeed all was vanity and grasping for the wind. There was no profit under the sun.
“Then I turned myself to consider wisdom and madness and folly; For what can the man do who succeeds the king?—Only what he has already done. Then I saw that wisdom excels folly As light excels darkness. The wise man’s eyes are in his head, But the fool walks in darkness. Yet I myself perceived That the same event happens to them all. So I said in my heart, ‘As it happens to the fool, It also happens to me, And why was I then more wise?’ Then I said in my heart, ‘This also is vanity.’ For there is no more remembrance of the wise than of the fool forever Since all that now is will be forgotten in the days to come.
“And how does a wise man die? As the fool! Therefore I hated life because the work that was done under the sun was distressing to me, for all is vanity and grasping for the wind. Then I hated all my labor in which I had toiled under the sun because I must leave it to the man who will come after me. And who knows whether he will be wise or a fool? Yet he will rule over all my labour in which I toiled and in which I have shown myself wise under the sun. This also is vanity. Therefore I turned my heart and despaired of all the labour in which I had toiled under the sun” (Ecclesiastes 2:8-20 NKJV).
King Solomon reflected on the purpose of living without contemplating life’s inherent significance. He questioned whether life was truly exciting. He concluded that physical life is a hollow pursuit unless dedicated to serving God. This leads us to wonder if Jesus found excitement in His earthly existence. Although Jesus’ time on earth was brief, He devoted Himself to accomplishing the mission God intended for Him. He left the Earth content, having fulfilled His objectives in alignment with God’s will.
“I have glorified You on the earth. I have finished the work which You have given Me to do. And now, O Father, glorify Me together with Yourself, with the glory which I had with You before the world was. “I have manifested Your name to the men whom You have given Me out of the world. They were Yours, You gave them to Me, and they have kept Your word. Now they have known that all things which You have given Me are from You. For I have given to them the words which You have given Me, and they have received them, and have known surely that I came forth from You; and they have believed that You sent Me. I pray for them. I do not pray for the world but for those whom You have given Me, for they are Yours” (John 17:4-9 NKJV).
Interestingly, Jesus prayed for His disciples but not for the world, which remains drawn to the excitement of worldly things. He loved all people, yet He chose not to pray for their attraction to His teachings unless they were drawn to become His disciples. Humanity has the freedom to be enticed by anything exciting in the world. However, considering the value of Jesus’ teachings, which are based on spiritual knowledge often deemed unattainable, nothing could be more thrilling than following Him. Jesus did not permit people to be enticed into following Him without understanding the responsibilities involved.
Nonetheless, it is worth examining why Jesus did not focus His prayers on the world. His primary mission was to save the world, yet by not praying for the world, He seemed disinterested in it. Nevertheless, it is the timing for humanity’s redemption that is significant to God. This is revealed in the six-day creation, culminating in the establishment of the Seventh Day Sabbath. The commandment given to the Israelites about the Sabbath is deeply profound and hints at the timing of humanity’s redemption.
“Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days you shall labour and do all your work, but the seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord your God. In it you shall do no work: you, nor your son, nor your daughter, nor your male servant, nor your female servant, nor your cattle, nor your stranger who is within your gates. For in six days the Lord made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, and rested the seventh day. Therefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and hallowed it” (Exodus 20:8-11 NKJV).
The six-day work period assigned to the Israelites supports the reason why Jesus did not pray for the world. These six days, followed by the Sabbath, represent the plan of salvation meant for all people. The concept of a seven-day week symbolizes a seven-thousand-year timeline established by God for engaging with humanity. For six thousand years, humans have acted independently of God’s direct intervention. However, the last thousand years are dedicated to the Lord, during which humans will not be permitted to carry on with their own activities. This time marks the era when Jesus will rule on Earth with His saints. Peter disclosed this teaching to strengthen the faith of Christians and to keep them from despairing.
“But the heavens and the earth which are now preserved by the same word, are reserved for fire until the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men. But, beloved, do not forget this one thing, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance” (2 Peter 3:7-9 NKJV).
Every individual has the right to pursue what they find thrilling, in accordance with their own will. This is the time given for humanity to perform their deeds, though, on Judgment Day, each will be held accountable. Jesus’ mission is to prepare those who will reign with Him during the millennium. These individuals should not be regarded as different from Jesus. He began with twelve disciples, but now His following has grown beyond just the original twelve. We are in the thrilling final days, for those aware of God’s existence.
The world is filled with both pleasant and unpleasant events, but it also offers incredibly exciting opportunities for achievement. Everyone has the right to undertake their own work, driven by their own motivation. Yet, those drawn to Jesus’ call should understand that their calling should not be viewed as a trivial matter. This implies an alignment with Jesus’ principles. The same harsh treatment Jesus faced may befall anyone who decides to follow Him.
Participating in rugby can be exhilarating, yet it comes with the potential for injury. This is true for any chosen pursuit. Typically, the more thrilling an activity, the greater the associated risk. Jesus did not hesitate to highlight the risks to those keen to follow Him, advising them to consider the costs before making a commitment. In following Jesus, there is no risk of deceit, as He was always clear about the commitment required to be one of His disciples.
“If anyone comes to Me and does not hate his father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, yes, and his own life also, he cannot be My disciple. And whoever does not bear his cross and come after Me cannot be My disciple. For which of you, intending to build a tower, does not sit down first and count the cost, whether he has enough to finish it—lest, after he has laid the foundation, and is not able to finish, all who see it begin to mock him, saying, ‘This man began to build and was not able to finish’?
“Or what king, going to make war against another king, does not sit down first and consider whether he is able with ten thousand to meet him who comes against him with twenty thousand? Or else, while the other is still a great way off, he sends a delegation and asks for conditions of peace. So likewise, whoever of you does not forsake all that he has cannot be My disciple. Salt is good; but if the salt has lost its flavour, how shall it be seasoned? It is neither fit for the land nor for the dunghill, but men throw it out. He who has ears to hear, let him hear!” (Luke 14:26-35 NKJV).
The concluding segment of the referenced Scripture, metaphorically discussing salt that loses its taste, is notably thought-provoking. Individuals who follow their personal ambitions are deemed secure in contrast to those who carelessly choose the path of following Jesus. According to Revelation 20:4-7, humanity is allotted a six-thousand-year timeframe to perform their deeds before the advent of the Lord’s millennial Sabbath. Yet, for one who has embraced Christianity, resembling salt that has become tasteless, there is a fear rooted in possibly overlooking the caution that is issued.
In Christian communities, warnings are often downplayed due to concerns about losing members. The impact of a Christian organization is often gauged by the number of individuals it attracts. The main goal is usually to draw as many people as possible into the fellowship. Speaking the truth can be a costly endeavour, and yet truth is at the heart of Jesus’ teachings. Many Christian denominations focus on growing their membership, and tithing sometimes seems to be prioritized over the spiritual health of the congregation. This is a regrettable situation, but it does reflect reality to some extent.
The issue with falsehood is its comforting nature, which can leave one feeling secure even in the face of impending danger. Our current physical existence does not offer enduring peace. One may relish life in the morning and yet face disaster by nightfall. There is no assurance that today’s pleasures will persist into tomorrow. Nonetheless, it is crucial to partake in activities that one truly believes reflect the genuine worth of one’s existence.
Similarly, while poverty may hold a certain appeal for some, humility also carries its own allure. Humility fosters a readiness to learn, unveiling secrets typically hidden from the average person. We are on the cusp of times that are both immensely challenging and thrilling, as foretold by Scripture. Decisions regarding what excites us can be enthralling but must be made with prudent judgment, for not everything that glitters is gold.
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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