Everything starts from the beginning. A storey building exists only when there is a strong foundation to sustain its structure. The story of humanity’s origin is clearly covered in the first chapter of the Book of Genesis. But, surprisingly, the reality of the purpose of humanity remains a total mystery to the scholars and the clergy, alike. This may be the time to unveil the mystery.
And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth. 27 So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them (Genesis 1:26-27 KJV)
The suffering that engulfs humanity, in general, is strangely blamed on God, who configured the creation of humanity, in His own image. The meaning of God’s image has continued to be mysterious, even when the contents of the Bible are regarded as sacred by believers. Those claiming otherwise, display the ignorance that keeps them in their condition of slavery.
Jesus came to articulate the significance of the gospel, portraying the good news of the Kingdom of God. This was later heralded by His disciples after He had departed from this planet. Jesus declared being the way, the truth and the life (John 14:6), for those intending to abide by the fact. Approximately, two thousand years since Jesus left, the unveiling of that truth to ordinary humans remains obscure.
But if our gospel is hidden, it is hidden to them that are lost: 4. In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them. For we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord; and ourselves your servants for Jesus’ sake (2 Corinthians 4:3-5 KJV)
The above Scripture should be regarded as revelatory. Jesus, as portraying God’s image, cannot shine upon those whose minds have been blinded by the god of this world. But notice that Jesus’ nature of God’s image resonates with the creation in Genesis 1:26-27. It is impossible to know the effects of God’s image, without the light shining, for those intending to see. The same Jesus contended with the people who had eyes to see but could not see. They had ears to hear, but could not comprehend.
He answered and said unto them because it is given unto you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them, it is not given. 12 For whosoever hath to him shall be given, and he shall have more abundance: but whosoever hath not, from him shall be taken away even that he hath. 13, Therefore speak I to them in parables: because they seeing see not; and hearing they hear not, neither do they understand. 14. And in them is fulfilled the prophecy of Esaias, which saith, By hearing ye shall hear, and shall not understand; and seeing ye shall see, and shall not perceive: 1. For this people’s heart is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes they have closed; lest at any time they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and should understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them (Matthew 13:11-15 KJV).
The prevailing challenge for humanity is the inaccessibility of the prerogative on choosing those one desires to be consequently blessed. Humans are caught up in desperate need of that most valuable key to access freedom. What had His disciples done to deserve being blessed, as to then receive what the rest of humanity had all along failed to access? Before delving into that riddle, let us first demystify the meaning of God’s image. What does God’s image mean?
In the history of humanity, there has not been a scientific description of Man, serve for the one elucidated in the writings of L Ron Hubbard. His research on the mechanics of the human mind guided him to the discovery of the depiction of the spirit, as applicable to humanity. The spirit is the opposite of what is known of humanity, as related to the physical universe; portrayed as follows:
“The spirit has no mass, no wavelength, no energy and no time or location in space except by consideration or postulate. (A postulate, simply put, is a decision that something will happen) The Spirit then is not a thing. It is the Creator” (Page 202—Scientology Handbook).
Nothing in the physical universe can ever match the above description. An ordinary man can never find this description making sense. However, when incorporating the significance of God’s image, as depicted according to Man created in Genesis 1:26-27, humanity is not different from God. The description given by L Ron Hubbard perfectly fits that of God—as given in the Book of Exodus:
“Thou shalt not make thee any graven image, or any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth” (Exodus 20:4 KJV).
The above Scripture enables an analytical person to conclude the significance of Jesus’ statement that anyone having seen Him had seen the Father (John 14:9). The pivotal contention between Jesus and the religious leaders of His time was His inference that He was God’s Son. Those people could not appreciate the statement that Jesus could be likened to God, yet, as human as He was; Jesus had confirmed a statement that is in agreement with Genesis 1:26-27.
I and my Father are one. 31. Then the Jews took up stones again to stone him. 32. Jesus answered them, Many good works have I showed you from my Father; for which of these works do ye stone me? 33. The Jews answered him, saying, For a good work we stone thee not; but for blasphemy; and because that thou, being a man, makest thyself God (John 10:30-33).
His accusers asserted falsehood in assuming that Men could not be likened to God, contradicting the sacred Scriptures. Jesus merely asserted the truth that He was God’s Son. Those Jews were also God’s children, but having rebelled against their Father. Another point of significance is that rather than depicting God’s name, Jesus always used the term “Father,” signifying that Jesus was also God. There is truth in that humanity’s degradation has disqualified them from being God’s children.
When Jesus declared that He and His Father were one, He was portraying what humanity ought to accept as agreeing with Genesis 1:26-27. The prodigal son who lost his identity, to the point of forgetting where he came from, could not convince anyone that he could be the son of a wealthy man. His father still regarded him as his son, nevertheless (Luke 15:11-32).
Interestingly, a person may pride himself after having amassed an abundance of wealth, as to be admired by those of this world. He might physically live in comfort, say for 100 years. But that life is too negligible when considering his potential trillions of years, in God’s Kingdom. In their degraded condition, humans put a value on things that are insignificant.
This brings us to the reason why ordinary humans cannot see the obvious. Jesus was not different from His fellow Humans, except that He was not degraded, like them. In short, it is in their condition of degradation that humans are blinded from seeing what is highlighted in Jesus. The only obstacle, causing such blindness is the idea that one knows when in actual fact the person doesn’t know.
The direction to the truth does not need theological studies or anything else, except humility. The apostle Paul said the god of this world had blinded the minds of those of this world. The god of this world cannot be sustained by anything else, except pride. Therein, rests the deception of the entire humanity. This includes professors, known to have achieved great discoveries in renowned universities. The fact that one is regarded highly does not absolve the same person from the state of degradation.
In the minds of those susceptible to be deceived, is the consideration that Jesus was as revered as assumed by those praying daily to Him. When Jesus was on earth, only a few people appreciated His significance. He, actually, refused to be worshipped, insisting that He came to serve and not to be served (See Matthew 19:17 and Matthew 20:28). What all this implies is that a person can claim to dearly love God, and yet be unable to love God, as aptly confirmed by John:
And we have seen and do testify that the Faher sent the Son to be the Savior of the world. 15 Whoever shall confess that Jesus is the Son of God, God dwelleth in him, and he in God. 16. And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God and God in him. 17 Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the Day of Judgment; because as he is, so are we in this world. 18. There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. 19, We love him, because he first loved us. 20. If a man says, I love God and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen? 21. And this commandment have we from him, That he who loveth God love his brother also (1 John 4:14-21).
It is only those who are blinded by the god of this world, who fail to see such Scriptures, long recorded in the annals of the Bible. The only reason they hold denial is the invalidation of their fellow humans. What is said in this presentation is not new. It has been deliberately rejected, for the purposes of maintaining honour by those considered honorable in this world. For that reason, Jesus was treated dishonorably.
The blinding factor is in not knowing one’s true identity, when assuming that receiving material blessings would be a sign of being blessed by God. A person may claim to love God, to the pleasure of his peers, and yet remain totally subservient to Satan, who does not fall short of conceit, nevertheless. A person with a transformed mind ceases to be fascinated by all achievements of this world. Rather than seek self-elevation, he seeks to elevate his fellowmen from a condition of degradation.
For the purpose of desiring to usurp the glory of Jesus, authoritarians have conceived an idea of declaring Jesus as a member of the Trinity. This, therefore, gives them a privilege of being closer to God, more than others. This is not different from the Pharisaic condition, existing at the time of Jesus. What occupies their minds is that another human being cannot be God’s child.
A man can be so degraded as to behave like an animal. But that does not take away the fact that he would be God’s child, deserving to be salvaged from his deplorable condition. This is one of the reasons why Jesus instructed His disciples to love their enemies. Being able to see the light, ahead of others, is not necessarily anything to be viewed as an advantage. It bestows responsibility on the person concerned. Hence, the treatment of Jesus on the cross could not be envied by any person, considered normal, at that time.
The sudden elevation of one person from his own group is viewed as threatening. Rather than celebrate, those of the same group feel threatened. Jesus had to preach elsewhere, rather than preach to His clansmen (Luke 4:24-31). This behavior stems from battles of ancient times, invoking trepidation among those observing the elevation of one of their own. To them such threats would be real; viewed as would take away their comfort in degradation, rather than confront the light.
The entire New Testament Bible is premised on the essence of humility, before God, in order for one to receive salvation. But, unfortunately, even the seemingly piety Christians pretend to humble themselves before the unknown God. They would be totally unaware that the same God would be portrayed in despised people. Their fellow humans represent the God they assume to worship.
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.
The Print copy is now available at Amazon.com for $13.99
Also available as an e-copy at Lulu.com for $6.99
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