A child born into this world confronts a physical reality they cannot control. They may face more barriers than freedoms in certain areas, while in others, they may discover ample liberty. These challenges affect the physical aspect rather than the spiritual dimension of a person. It is often believed that a child born in a palace experiences more freedom than one born into servitude. However, a person born into servitude may acquire invaluable wisdom in mastering the material world. True victory lies in embracing reality, not illusion, to comprehend and overcome the physical universe.
Every human being’s existence spans an unpredictable duration. Some depart leaving a legacy of remarkable longevity, while others imprint a deleterious mark, adversely affecting their surroundings. Countless individuals seek fame, yet infamy is often scorned. The pursuit of self-preservation may invoke envy, but a life committed to noble service earns extensive esteem. In the end, one should aim for a significant overall impact rather than merely the quantity of admiration garnered.
The notion of life is frequently considered from an eternal viewpoint, whereas life in the physical world is transient and uncertain. Every individual should reflect on what makes an investment meaningful. Although the concept of life is infinite, one has the choice to invest in either a short-lived or a prolonged physical existence. Typically, the longer the lifespan one commits to, the more it is valued. The lasting teachings of Jesus Christ, imparted to His disciples, highlighted the significance of enduring investments over transient ones.
“Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
“The lamp of the body is the eye. If therefore your eye is good, your whole body will be full of light. But if your eye is bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in you is darkness, how great is that darkness! No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon” (Matthew 6:19-24 NKJV).
Jesus emphasized the importance of investing in what is worthwhile rather than investing in what is worthless. The concept of heavenly treasure suggests an eternal perspective, rather than a focus on the transient nature of earthly existence. The ultimate reality of life is to achieve the everlastingness it promises. No one desires to be deprived of their life-long savings; hence, striving for the best returns is natural. Therefore, careful evaluation before acquiring something deemed valuable is essential.
The legacy one leaves behind is often deemed more significant than the personal gratification experienced in life. Those who invest in everlasting rewards will discover them in waiting. An individual may earn a month’s wages and dissipate it in a day on fleeting pleasures. In contrast, others may judiciously manage their earnings to sustain them throughout the month. True wisdom is found with the latter, the judicious individual, not the profligate. Life offers a multitude of choices, each leading down different paths to be followed.
Jesus metaphorically described the eye as the lamp of the body. Not recognizing the folly of wasting a month’s salary on ephemeral pleasures is indeed bleak. Conversely, the capacity to discern the imprudence of neglecting future planning indicates a more noble character. Jesus’ mission was to enable us to lead an abundant life. To aid in comprehending human fallibility, He employed these tangible terms. Ultimately, Jesus bequeathed to us an everlasting legacy of wisdom, not to live a life devoid of challenges, but rather to ensure we do not lose it.
Being born into this world holds unparalleled importance. Regardless of the circumstances of one’s birth, whether they stem from acts of immorality or not, the crucial element is the entry into life. The most significant question then becomes what one does with their life. The duration of life may be as brief as Jesus’ thirty-three and a half years, or as long as a century. Ultimately, the essence lies in how one spends those years of existence.
The gift of life is incomparable. It prompts the inquiry: How did we emerge without a creator of life? This invaluable gift should be treasured by all. It’s crucial to acknowledge that this gift is distinct for each individual, and the deeds of others are of little consequence. Each person is responsible for their own life, independent of the actions and impacts of others. The gift of life suggests that one is the architect of their own destiny.
All who ever came before Me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not hear them. I am the door. If anyone enters by Me, he will be saved and will go in and out and find pasture. The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life and that they may have it more abundantly. I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd gives His life for the sheep. But a hireling, he who is not the shepherd, one who does not own the sheep, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and flees; and the wolf catches the sheep and scatters them. The hireling flees because he is a hireling and does not care about the sheep. I am the good shepherd, and I know My sheep and am known by My own. As the Father knows Me, even so, I know the Father; and I lay down My life for the sheep” (John 10:8-15 NKJV).
In the given passage, Jesus emphasizes that valuing others’ opinions is unwise. He is portrayed as the most trustworthy shepherd one can find in life. Understanding this requires insight beyond the physical realm. The capacity to discern and be certain of Jesus, who died and rose again, grants wisdom to the beholder. Physical life, often promoted by those compared to thieves and robbers, is deemed insignificant. Jesus’ declaration serves as a reminder that one enters the world alone, coming forth from the sole giver of life.
Feeling trapped in this world may indicate a lack of awareness that life is more sustained by the spiritual realm than the physical one. While influenced by others, we might make decisions that appear noble, but Jesus described such influencers as thieves and robbers. Belief or disbelief in Him is a personal choice. Nonetheless, no informant is considered more significant than Jesus, who is acknowledged for His death and resurrection.
The teachings of Jesus are intended for everyone, but not for those who are arrogant and align themselves with malevolence. Every individual receives life from a single source—God. Yet, not everyone cherishes this gift, as they are swayed by deception. Many, despite being granted life freely by God, choose to scorn the giver, akin to thieves and robbers. It is widely acknowledged that even those who resist God are recipients of life from Him without cost. These individuals seek solace in wickedness, boasting of their arrogance, which obscures the truth from humanity.
The coming of Jesus symbolized liberation from the worries of this world, and no one should see themselves as an outsider. The liberty granted by Jesus is inclusive, disregarding one’s history or previous transgressions. The obstacle lies in the desire to hold a status higher than others, driven by the mistaken belief that life aims to achieve fame. Accumulating wealth may seem wise, but it can be a snare for the faithful. Jesus dismissed the concern over earthly belongings, emphasizing a focus on the giver of life.
“Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink; nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? Which of you by worrying can add one cubit to his stature?
“So why do you worry about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin; and yet I say to you that even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. Now if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will He not much more clothe you, O you of little faith?
“Therefore do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble” (Matthew 6:25-34 NKJV).
Jesus did not advocate for idleness among believers. Instead, He emphasized a dedication to actions that further God’s Kingdom. The foremost concern of God is the redemption of humanity from the bonds of sin. This priority is underscored by His decision to send Jesus to model the path to salvation. This path encourages self-sacrifice for the benefit of others in this life, emphasizing giving rather than receiving.
Living a life in the image of Jesus supersedes any other purpose one might deem paramount for existence. Being deemed a child of God entails adopting divine-like reasoning in all pursuits. An individual on this path would renounce their worldly identity. They would no longer regard their physical existence as something to cling to. Contrary to the deceptions spread by Satan, preserving physical life is not of greater importance than sacrificing it.
“But you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. Now if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he is not His. And if Christ is in you, the body is dead because of sin, but the Spirit is life because of righteousness. But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you.
“Therefore, brethren, we are debtors—not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh. For if you live according to the flesh you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God. For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, ‘Abba, Father.’ The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together” (Romans 8:9-17 NKJV).
The crux of humanity’s dilemma lies in the lack of understanding of spirituality. When one observes themselves in a physical state, it invites a range of opinions from others. These opinions may label the individual in any number of ways, depending on the context in which they are seen. For example, racial identity can provoke a spectrum of views that may either demean or elevate the person in question. Such realities persist, even among those deemed as believers.
“My brethren, do not hold the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory, with partiality. For if there should come into your assembly a man with gold rings, in fine apparel, and there should also come in a poor man in filthy clothes, and you pay attention to the one wearing the fine clothes and say to him, “You sit here in a good place,” and say to the poor man, “You stand there,” or, “Sit here at my footstool,” have you not shown partiality among yourselves, and become judges with evil thoughts?” (James 2:1-4 NKJV).
Blessed are those who understand that the value of life transcends the views of their environment. One need not regard the opinions of others, whether they elevate you beyond your self-image or diminish your worth. Physical appearances do not mirror the true nature of what was fashioned in God’s likeness. In Jesus, there is a depth that exceeds the assertions of this world’s claimed experts. In the end, it is what engages a person’s curiosity, be it the teachings of Jesus or the allure of secular ideologies.
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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