When given the choice between wealth and addressing the issue of vagrancy, some may mistakenly believe that eliminating vagrants would restore order. This misconception leads to the devaluation of human life, resulting in the perpetrators living under the curses of those they have wronged. They fail to recognize the intrinsic value of human life, seduced by money’s ability to procure what is perceived as more desirable. Yet, with faith as small as a mustard seed, humanity has the potential to create wonders. This is as the current state of affairs is largely a consequence of the actions of the living, rather than the dead.
The act of murder is considered more heinous than the act of destroying property. It is a common belief that human life possesses an eternal essence, whereas all material entities are fundamentally transient. The visible world is as fleeting as the physical realm is temporary. Yet, humans, being made in the image of God, transcend the physical. The accumulation of a person’s sins may be vast, but this does not diminish their inherent worth. God promises to absolve the sins of humans, no matter the severity.
“Come now, and let us reason together,” Says the Lord, “Though your sins are like scarlet, They shall be as white as snow; Though they are red like crimson, They shall be as wool” (Isaiah 1:18 NKJV).
One of God’s prophets is noted for his disillusionment with God’s seeming disregard for human wickedness. He disagreed with God’s plan to forgive the inhabitants of Nineveh, notorious for their heinous sins. He deemed the people of Tarshish more deserving of his services than those of Nineveh. When commanded to preach in Nineveh, he attempted to evade his duty by sailing to Tarshish. This act was a grave transgression against his prophetic mission. Nevertheless, God intervened extraordinarily, ensuring that he ultimately arrived in Nineveh.
But the Lord sent out a great wind on the sea, and there was a mighty tempest on the sea so that the ship was about to be broken up. Then the mariners were afraid; and every man cried out to his god, and threw the cargo that was in the ship into the sea, to lighten the load. But Jonah had gone down into the lowest parts of the ship, had lain down, and was fast asleep. So the captain came to him, and said to him, “What do you mean, sleeper? Arise, call on your God; perhaps your God will consider us, so that we may not perish.”
And they said to one another, “Come, let us cast lots, that we may know for whose cause this trouble has come upon us.” So they cast lots, and the lot fell on Jonah. Then they said to him, “Please tell us! For whose cause is this trouble upon us? What is your occupation? And where do you come from? What is your country? And of what people are you?”
So he said to them, “I am a Hebrew; and I fear the Lord, the God of heaven, who made the sea and the dry land.” Then the men were exceedingly afraid, and said to him, “Why have you done this?” For the men knew that he fled from the presence of the Lord because he had told them. Then they said to him, “What shall we do to you that the sea may be calm for us?”—for the sea was growing more tempestuous.
And he said to them, “Pick me up and throw me into the sea; then the sea will become calm for you. For I know that this great tempest is because of me.” Nevertheless, the men rowed hard to return to land, but they could not, for the sea continued to grow more tempestuous against them. Therefore they cried out to the Lord and said, “We pray, O Lord, please do not let us perish for this man’s life, and do not charge us with innocent blood; for You, O Lord, have done as it pleased You.” So they picked up Jonah and threw him into the sea, and the sea ceased from its raging. Then the men feared the Lord exceedingly and offered a sacrifice to the Lord and took vows (Jonah 1:4-16 NKJV)
The sailors who threw Jonah into the sea did not aim to take his life, nor did God. Jonah’s willful defiance could not thwart God’s plan. The whale that ingested Jonah was tasked with ensuring his compliance with God’s command. Despite Jonah’s wish for his life to end, God intended to employ him to deliver the people of Nineveh. Consequently, a great whale deposited him onto the dry land near Nineveh.
The story of Jonah is documented to highlight God’s recognition of humanity’s inherent worth. Often, like Jonah, we subconsciously act towards others without considering this value. The thought of the atrocious acts committed by those around us can be chilling, and we may deem them unforgivable by God. Yet, it is the very same God, who extends forgiveness in ways that surpass our understanding, while also issuing stern warnings to those considered righteous.
As Jonah awoke, he found himself with the vigour to carry out the work God had intended for him. To his astonishment, the people of Nineveh heeded his preaching and repented deeply. The entire city was granted God’s mercy. Jonah knew that their repentance was not due to his efforts; it was solely the result of God’s unpredictable grace. Recognizing this, Jonah grappled with facing God, conscious of his initial reluctance to follow God’s command.
Therefore now, O Lord, please take my life from me, for it is better for me to die than to live!” Then the Lord said, “Is it right for you to be angry?” So Jonah went out of the city and sat on the east side of the city. There he made himself a shelter and sat under it in the shade, till he might see what would become of the city. And the Lord God prepared a plant and made it come up over Jonah, that it might be shade for his head to deliver him from his misery.
So Jonah was very grateful for the plant. But as morning dawned the next day God prepared a worm, and it so damaged the plant that it withered. And it happened, when the sun arose, that God prepared a vehement east wind, and the sun beat on Jonah’s head so that he grew faint. Then he wished death for himself, and said, “It is better for me to die than to live.”
Then God said to Jonah, “Is it right for you to be angry about the plant?” And he said, “It is right for me to be angry, even to death!” But the Lord said, “You have had pity on the plant for which you have not laboured, nor made it grow, which [c]came up in a night and perished in a night. And should I not pity Nineveh, that great city, in which there are more than one hundred and twenty thousand persons who cannot discern between their right hand and their left—and much livestock?” (Jonah 4: 3-11 NKJV)
Jesus’ teachings often challenged those who believed they deserved salvation due to their perceived righteousness. This mindset may resemble that of the Prophet Jonah. Instead, Jesus encouraged a shift away from such thinking. The parable in Luke 18:10-14 serves to address the righteous indignation displayed by the good, but judgmental people towards corrupt individuals. Jesus’ mission focused not on condemnation, but on saving those deeply entrenched in the world’s grievous sins.
“Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the mighty works which were done in you had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes. But I say to you, it will be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon on the day of judgment than for you. And you, Capernaum, who are exalted to heaven, will be brought down to Hades; for if the mighty works which were done in you had been done in Sodom, it would have remained until this day. But I say to you that it shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom in the day of judgment than for you.”
At that time Jesus answered and said, “I thank You, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that You have hidden these things from the wise and prudent and have revealed them to babes. Even so, Father, for so it seemed good in Your sight. All things have been delivered to Me by My Father, and no one knows the Son except the Father. Nor does anyone know the Father except the Son, and the one to whom the Son wills to reveal Him. Come to Me, all you who labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.” (Matthew 11:21-30 NKJV).
The individuals whom Jesus disapproved of were not considered blatant sinners. They were likely held in high esteem. Jesus’ lament suggests that He was not concerned about habitual sinners, but rather those who presumed they were righteous in God’s sight. God does not view humanity selectively; He sees all humans as steeped in sin and undeserving of mercy. The issue is that judging others exempts oneself from God’s mercy.
Nonetheless, Jesus’ purpose in dying on the cross was to offer salvation to all humanity, doomed to destruction. The inherent value of humanity is unparalleled. While it’s true that some individuals have made significant contributions towards improving conditions in this flawed world, this does not make them superior to those deemed the worst sinners. A careful examination of Jesus’ teachings reveals that he consistently cautioned against the belief of being better than others regarded as sinful.
“Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. Many will say to Me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’ And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’ (Matthew 7:21-23 NKJV).
Undoubtedly, the world is filled with great preachers who impact people’s lives significantly. The referenced Scripture could be interpreted as suggesting that Jesus disregards good deeds. Yet, good deeds are indeed rewarded even to those not affiliated with Christianity. Conversely, for those within Christianity, humility is valued above good deeds. This distinction may be the crucial factor differentiating Christianity from those who are simply good but not connected to Christianity. This is confirmed by what Jesus declared would happen on the Day of Judgment (Matthew 25:32-41)
The only way for His followers to effect change is by loving their enemies and praying for those who persecute them for righteousness’ sake. Without enduring such hardships, there can be no hope for those presumed to be the Lord’s servants. For Christians, the path to safety lies not only in emulating Jesus’ behaviour when he was insulted on the cross but also in empathizing with those considered fallen sinners. Nothing else defines the proper attitude towards Christianity.
Following Jesus should not be seen as a comfortable journey, but rather a self-sacrificing one. It is a path for those who recognize the degradation of individuals whose intrinsic worth is beyond comparison to anything worldly. This was the mindset of Jesus, who chose to abandon the comfort of His Father’s paradise to confront the sins of humanity. The thought of a notorious criminal like Barabbas being exchanged for His life is chilling. Yet, this exchange did not diminish the inherent value of those who acted in such a way.
“Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross. Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus, every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and those on earth, and those under the earth” (Philippians 2:5-10 NKJV).
It is evident that many individuals wish to be associated with Jesus, yet they are reluctant to endure the hardships he faced. This echoes the dilemma Elijah confronted with the Israelites, who were torn between two allegiances. Elijah challenged the people: “How long will you waver between two opinions? If the Lord is God, follow Him; but if Baal, then follow him.” However, the people did not respond (1 Kings 18:21). Those existing in the present are no different from those in Elijah’s era. The summons to repentance, as directed to those keen to be associated with Christianity, remains as pertinent as it was in Elijah’s time.
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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