Knowledge is regarded as a spiritual concept that manifests through the physical body since spirit beings cannot interact without a physical form. While knowledge is accessed through the body, it is distinct from it. This distinction explains why a deceased body cannot communicate: the spirit, which embodies a person’s essence, is what animates the physical form. The spirit initiates action, and the physical body responds as a living entity.
A human being comprises both spirit and body. Without either, one cannot fully engage with the world. At death, the physical body will ultimately return to the earth, from where it originated. A person’s genetic heritage outlines their physical ancestry, suggesting there would be significance in the physical facet of their identity. Yet, spiritual ancestry, which leads back to God—the origin of life—transcends physical characteristics. The confusion arises from not distinguishing between the figure formed from dust and the being created in God’s image.
Creation suggests a spiritual conception, whereas formation implies the physical shaping of the existing material. What is formed differs from what is created. The materially formed is ephemeral and decays, while the created is eternal. Adam was shaped from the earth’s dust, but having been created in the image of God. Yet, had he held the same self-awareness as God, without divine attributes, he would have been akin to a robot. Divine self-sufficiency is attained through character, crafted by exerting innate willpower.
The need to exist in a physical form aids in cultivating a God-like character, attainable through an individual’s willpower. This is realized through data of a similar scale. The biblical tree of knowledge of good and evil serves as a fitting metaphor, where goodness is juxtaposed with evil. Evilness has its allure that leads to death, whereas goodness has its appeal that leads to life. Evil is fueled by pride, while goodness is underpinned by humility. This concept elucidates what was revealed to Adam, who was subject to the present physical reality.
Adam displayed two contrasting qualities, endowing him with a dualistic nature. He was virtuous when embracing godliness, yet he succumbed to primal urges akin to those of animals. This dichotomy justified the coexistence of good and evil within him. Adam’s first sons, Cain and Abel, exhibited distinct traits. Their story is distinguished by their offerings to God: Abel’s offering was accepted, but Cain’s was not, mirroring their respective dispositions.
Both were deeply cherished by God, distinguished solely by their approach to life. The physical world offers the possibility of change. Cain had the chance to follow Abel’s example and change his behaviour, provided he was humble enough to learn from his younger brother. Yet, materialistic desires frequently eclipse opportunities for personal growth. Overwhelmed by jealousy, a byproduct of pride, Cain chose to murder his brother. He succumbed to an impulsive wave of intense emotion, reminiscent of a wild animal.
Reduced to a beast after murdering his brother, Cain responded with contempt when asked about his brother’s whereabouts. “Where is your brother Abel?” the Lord inquired of Cain. “I don’t know,” he retorted. “Am I my brother’s keeper?” (Genesis 4:9) His answer implies self-centeredness, considering only his own interests. This aligns him with the notion of being a son of man, not a son of God. Abel, whose innocent life was taken and who found favour in God’s eyes, embodied the qualities of the Son of God. The traits of these two brothers reflect the qualities of humanity during that era.
Now it came to pass, when men began to multiply on the face of the earth, and daughters were born to them, that the sons of God saw the daughters of men, that they were beautiful; and they took wives for themselves of all whom they chose. And the Lord said, “My Spirit shall not strive with man forever, for he is indeed flesh; yet his days shall be one hundred and twenty years” (Genesis 6:1-3 NKJV).
Cain was cursed and exiled, becoming a wanderer in a foreign land. His actions estranged him from God’s people. The scriptural account does not detail the subsequent sins of Adam’s family. Yet, God’s dealings with Cain demonstrate His intolerance towards sinful humanity. Those who emulated Cain’s behaviour were labelled as ‘sons of men,’ while those who emulated Abel’s righteousness were called ‘Sons of God.’ God’s displeasure arose when intermarriages blurred the distinction between the ‘Sons of God’ and the ‘sons of men.’ In God’s family, there are no ‘daughters of God,’ for all are considered ‘Sons of God.’
“For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus. And if you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise” (Galatians 3:26-29 NKJV).
Sin manifests where the distinction between the sons of men and the Sons of God is blurred. As long as this distinction is maintained, sin does not arise. Although the sons of men may live in sin and suffer its consequences, this does not inherently displease God. The risk of displeasing God lies in the inability to distinguish between good and evil; just as the behaviour of predators may not necessarily displease God, as illustrated in the Book of Revelation.
“And to the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write, ‘These things says the Amen, the Faithful and True Witness, the Beginning of the creation of God: I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I could wish you were cold or hot. So then, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of My mouth” (Revelation 3:14-16 NKJV).
The Scripture indicates that God does not disdain being hot or cold; rather, it is the state of lukewarmness that displeases Him. The peril of mixing two electrical charges, positive and negative, can be likened to what God deems profoundly sinful. Similarly, when Jesus arrived, He did not show disdain for the notorious sinners of the era. Instead, His most vehement disapproval was reserved for those who were deemed religious in Jerusalem. The notion that God despises contemptible sinners is utterly detestable to Him.
God is cognizant of humanity’s decline since Adam, who was deemed worthy to be called a son of man. By the time of His arrival in the first century, there were no longer any Sons of God. This is why He was referred to as the only Son of God (John 3:16). Humanity’s sins had reached unparalleled heights. Yet, following His resurrection, the opportunity arose for humanity to attain the status of Sons of God, for those who believe in Him.
The enigma of Jesus lies in His dual identity as both the Son of Man and the Son of God. He deemed it necessary to be known as the Son of Man while engaging with the inhabitants of this world. Being a Son of God is distinctive, as it does not pertain to physical human lineage. The scripture saying, “The sons of God saw that the daughters of men were beautiful, and they took any they chose as wives,” suggests that those Sons of God may have overlooked the distinction between being a Son of God and a son of man. At present, it is beyond the sons of men to recognize the Sons of God, whom they regard as mere mortals.
The true Sons of God, distinguished by the Holy Spirit, follow the wisdom of Jesus’ teachings. Humanity is veiled by an inability to discern between the physical and spiritual realms. The Sons of God are acknowledged by God, through the Holy Spirit, in contrast to the sons of men, who are characterized by their diverse human behaviours. Often unknown to the world, the Sons of God may encounter derision for not adhering to secular customs.
Jesus also suggested that on Judgment Day, some will be acknowledged as Sons of God even though they had considered themselves sons of men (Matthew 25:32-40). These individuals will not be affiliated with Christianity. He portrayed this occasion as a period of division between the sons of men and the Sons of God, tracing back to Adam. He employed the analogy of setting the goats to the left and the sheep to the right. The ones on the right symbolize the Sons of God, whereas those on the left, the sons of men, are bound for the fiery furnace.
This world often treats certain individuals as more important than others, particularly those who have accumulated significant wealth. As a result, wealthy people tend to receive more respect than their less affluent counterparts. Many individuals are consumed with the desire for recognition, often prioritizing it over pursuing meaningful achievements. Attaining the status of a millionaire or billionaire has become a common aspiration for many. However, in his thought-provoking poems, Solomon questioned the importance of amassing wealth.
“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 labor in which I had toiled under the sun. For there is a man whose labour is with wisdom, knowledge, and skill; yet he must leave his heritage to a man who has not laboured for it. This also is vanity and a great evil” (Ecclesiastes 2:17-21 NKJV).
What Solomon observed is evidently true among people of this world. At my age, I have known many people who have passed away, some of whom were highly honoured in this world. Conversely, I have also seen social nonentities live and die without recognition. Ultimately, there is little distinction between someone who dies poor and someone who has been recognized as wealthy. This is particularly evident in an economically unpredictable country like ours. While some individuals possess enough wealth to buy mansions, they often leave those mansions to fall into disrepair after their deaths.
The dignity of a person is more important than accumulated wealth. However, it can be difficult to persuade others to appreciate things that cannot be physically measured. All material possessions will eventually fade away. But, people often place a high value on items that are ultimately insignificant, overlooking what holds greater worth, such as a person’s legacy. While material possessions deteriorate, many people prioritize them over lasting values. Jesus illustrated this point during His lecture to the disciples.
“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).
In the passage mentioned, Jesus was not speaking to all of humanity; instead, He was addressing His disciples, who were becoming potential Sons of God. When the same scripture is presented to those not spiritually attuned, it may provoke scorn, as it does not resonate with them. Some have pointed out that this scripture was misused by colonial settlers to justify the theft of wealth from Black people. The crucial point is that this scripture speaks primarily to the Sons of God, who are expected to depend on God rather than on material possessions.
A conscious human can choose to focus on either material or spiritual things. However, the existence of someone fixated solely on material possessions lacks significance. For such a person, existence and non-existence hold no real difference. They may achieve fame among those who resonate with their values, but that notoriety is often fleeting. Even if this person lives for a hundred years, that time is still remarkably brief in the context of eternity. It only takes a shift in awareness for an individual to recognize that what truly matters is a focus on spiritual rather than material pursuits.
It is important to emphasize that every human has the potential to become a Son of God. The key factor is the choices made by those fortunate enough to live on this planet. The desire to be honoured and respected by people in this world can be tempting, yet it is unwise for anyone to sacrifice their eternal future for such fleeting recognition. The greatest opportunity is to be born and exist in this world. Wisdom involves making the right choices during this lifetime. Focusing on temporary things is perhaps the most unwise decision one can make. In contrast, investing in eternity is the only meaningful investment a person can pursue during their lifespan.
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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