The greatest challenge for many is to be true to themselves. People often present an image at odds with their true selves, seeking others’ approval to feel a sense of belonging. Physical security is a significant concern for humans. Yet, upon realizing one’s spiritual nature, the concept of security becomes irrelevant, as the spirit transcends physical constraints. A person who understands their own identity is more secure than one who has yet to discover their personality. Independence is in name only, for most people.
Acquisition of properties is another way of displaying an obsession with security. The idea of purchasing as many properties gives a sense of security, to the naïve. Unbeknown to them is that a human being owns nothing tangible, but is entrusted with everything in his or her surroundings. The most valuable material entrusted to them concerns his or her life, followed by his or her spouse and children. It may come as a surprise that a person is not of him or herself. His physical body is projected as the temple of the Lord, according to Paul.
“Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own?” (1 Corinthians 6:19 NKJV).
It is conceivable that the same body, seen as the Lord’s Temple, could also be considered a temple of the devil. Satan advocates the notion that one’s body is one’s own to use as they wish. As a purveyor of deception, Satan has successfully misled humanity into believing they are autonomous. Yet, this confirms a misguided path based on that deception. We must dedicate time to demonstrate the fallacy of claiming ownership over anything in this world. All that exists is entrusted to those who inhabit this world, including their own bodies.
Ownership implies an individual’s investment that justifies a claim over something. A foetus, nestled safely within the mother’s womb, is bound by a natural allegiance to the mother, considered the sole guardian, yet without conscious choice. Yet, the mother, in turn, owes her existence to another. Similarly, the child is the result of a spermatozoon from a father, who may or may not acknowledge responsibility for the child’s existence. The origins of human life are not for anyone to claim ownership with certainty, but rather to be observed as provided by nature.
Interestingly, a fetus in a mother’s womb can be claimed by a man who may not be the biological father. In the absence of DNA testing, many children have been attributed to incorrect fathers. This underscores the fact that although these men claim paternity, they cannot influence the fetus’s development. Lacking scanning technology, they can only discover the child’s gender post-birth. Despite their claims of fatherhood, they remain unaware of the child’s inherent characteristics until birth. Both parents are mere custodians of the children entrusted to them.
Can a mango tree claim ownership of the fruits it bears? One might argue that a farmer can claim the mangoes grown on his land, owing to his ability to manage the estate. Yet, this farmer lives by the grace of God and could be afflicted by an unforeseen disease, before passing away. Those mango trees may then be claimed by another, who may also meet a similar end. Such farmers may indeed relish the fruits, which are the yield of the agricultural toil. Nevertheless, none of them owns the earth, nor control the moisture or nutrients essential for the mango tree’s growth.
A farmer’s intellectual prowess in agricultural methods may be evident, but the source of his excellence in these skills prompts curiosity. It could be that his proficiency stems from a mentor who imparted effective farming techniques. However, the lineage of this knowledge and the well-being of the instructor, crucial for his teaching role, are subjects of inquiry. The answers to these questions hinge on understanding the true genesis of the material universe. Ignoring the presence of a supreme authority that governs the material universe would be unwise.
In this presentation, we aim to verify the authenticity of the individual’s identity. Peter recognized Jesus as Christ, the Son of the living God (Matthew 16:16). Jesus affirmed that this revelation did not come from flesh and blood, but from the Father in Heaven. It would be illogical for Simon Peter to consider himself wiser, rather than to recognize the Father who provided this revelation. Knowledge is indeed powerful, but the true power lies in the origin of that knowledge, which Jesus revealed as coming from the Father.
What would be a just attitude towards someone like Peter after Jesus had proclaimed His possession of superior knowledge? It seems reasonable that a person in touch with the true source should receive honour befitting of God. The disciples did not shy away from honouring Jesus, acknowledging His divine wisdom. Similarly, those endowed with such knowledge are also worthy of divine respect. Yet, the true measure of this honour is reflected in the experiences of Jesus and the apostles. Those in the material world are not equipped to honour God properly, as evidenced by their acerbic treatment of Jesus.
A person, who realizes they are a child of God, yet lives in a world as flawed as ours, is eager to take responsibility for addressing wrongs. They cannot fault others but must acknowledge that action can be taken to correct whatever would be wrong. Such an individual is prepared to do whatever is necessary to amend the wrongs. Those who avoid responsibility are merely pretending, seeking justification in past achievements rather than genuine accountability.
The sense of entitlement can be a significant folly among individuals. A person’s life should be devoted to others, with the fruits of their labour benefiting others rather than themselves. A fruit tree bears fruits for others’ enjoyment and not for its own food. The most relevant question for someone who has lived over a century is how they have served their fellow human beings. Whether as a professional musician or in any role that defines a person, they are ultimately in service to others. Trouble begins when a person grows arrogant from the praises of others.
Recognizing oneself as a child of God confers the honour of emulating Jesus. A common misconception is that being God’s child means being worshipped by others, which suggests being served rather than serving. This belief can result in an individual desiring acknowledgement for their deeds that benefit others. Consequently, such individuals might feel entitled, harbouring the erroneous belief that they deserve ownership of anything in the material world.
A person dies peacefully when they are aware that no one owes them anything and not owing anyone anything. Happiness comes from engaging in the act of serving others. When Jesus declared that the greatest among us would be the one who serves others, He was proposing a lofty ideal. Beyond sacrificing Himself on the cross for humanity, Jesus exemplified the importance of servitude by washing the feet of His disciples. He then urged those disciples to adopt this behaviour for the rest of their lives.
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 13:12-17 NKJV).
This was not merely a religious ceremony, but a way of life that embraced servitude over being served. The phrase “the last will be first, and the first last” (Matthew 20:16), often uttered by Jesus, carries a profound significance. It dismisses the concept of seniority or the extent of one’s contributions to the ministry. Its principal aim is to foster humility in those concerned. The fundamental sin of humanity is pride. The belief that one is entitled to anything makes the eradication of pride unattainable. Yet, those who serve are often honoured by those benefitting.
The prevailing belief in this world is that those who serve are not entitled to honour, while those who are served are deemed honourable. This stems from the presumption of superiority over others, which disregards the fact that all humans are created in God’s image. If this is true, then who can claim to be greater than the Creator? Such reasoning reveals Satan’s plot to foster sinfulness among humanity. As the epitome of vanity, Satan advocates the notion that some individuals should be regarded as superior to others.
This arises from a sense of idolatry that many humans deem necessary. Anything perceived as stronger than oneself can evoke a sense of idolatry. In the physical realm, giants are often seen as dominant over those deemed smaller. Yet, there is no evidence to suggest that any humans were created superior to others. Imagining something in God’s image does not equate to physical forms. A spirit, by its nature, cannot be equated with anything physical.
Diagnosing a spiritual being necessitates spiritual rather than physical perception. David was undoubtedly aware of this magnitude when he remained undaunted by Goliath’s size. Goliath, embodying the physical perspective, perceived David as inconsequential. Possessing only the physical sight, he was blind to the spiritual realm. In contrast, David’s possession of both physical and spiritual vision granted him an advantage over Goliath, the giant feared by mortals.
Humans are endowed with both physical and spiritual perception. Yet, pride or fear can blind the spiritual aspect of a person. Goliath’s blindness lay in his assumption of invincibility, failing to acknowledge the source of his being. Spiritual perception is deemed superior as it delves into origins to ascertain truth. Such insight led David to realize that, in the face of the Creator, even the declared formidable Goliath was insignificant.
Many people are unaware that spirituality is the cornerstone of humanity. What was created on the sixth day after the physical universe was not physical. It is explicitly stated that God created man in His own image. Without understanding the importance of God’s image, one would be lost in confusion. Since God is not a physical being, what was created in His image cannot be compared to anything physical. This statement may seem simple, yet it is complex for many people. The complexity arises from the difficulty in discerning its spiritual significance.
Then God said, “Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.” So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them” (Genesis 1:26-27 NKJV).
The simplicity of the mentioned Scripture lies in its straightforward statement, yet it remains complex to many. This complexity arises from the challenge of discerning its spiritual significance, particularly when one assumes it originates from the physical realm. It is perplexing to note that while the Scripture appears uncomplicated, the fact that it baffles many creates another mystery. Goliath’s dismissal of David was a kind of blindness, revealing his own lack of self-understanding. It is called spiritual blindness.
The essence of misunderstanding stems from the events in the Garden of Eden, where the couple consumed the forbidden fruit. God had clearly warned that death would befall them on the day they ate that fruit. Consequently, it is believed that they died on that very day. This event is pivotal to grasping the spiritual meaning embedded in Genesis 1:26-27. Without divine enlightenment, one remains oblivious to the depth of that passage. Humanity experienced death on the day the couple consumed the forbidden fruit.
This, however, was a spiritual death, which made them incapable of understanding spiritual matters. The crucial question then is what actions one should take after comprehending the incomprehensible. As the sole beacon of enlightenment, Jesus sacrificed His body, setting a standard for His followers. Those who carry the light must assist the spiritually blind in recognizing their condition. This is the essence of Christian responsibility. It is beneficial to receive sight, but the more significant question is what one does with the knowledge gained.
“We know that we have passed from death to life because we love the brethren. He who does not love his brother abides in death. Whoever hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life abiding in him. By this, we know love because He laid down His life for us. And we also ought to lay down our lives for the brethren” (1 John 3:14-16 NKJV).
The enduring challenge is that Satan often presents falsehoods in an appealing way to fallible humans, making the truth seem less attractive. Yet, it is by God’s design that only a few are granted the ability to understand spiritual matters at this time. These messages are understandably obscure to those whom God has not yet called. Spiritual discernment is a divine gift that is beyond anyone’s complete control, as Jesus affirmed in John 6:44.
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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