Following Jesus is an impossibility for physical humans. Jesus Himself made this clear, addressing those who thought He was like anyone else in this world. He declared that His testimony could only come from Himself, as He was the sole person to have come directly from the Father. Therefore, accessing His location was not possible, and He warned His listeners that they would die in their sins instead.
“I am One who bears witness of Myself, and the Father who sent Me bears witness of Me.” Then they said to Him, “Where is Your Father?” Jesus answered, “You know neither Me nor My Father. If you had known Me, you would have known My Father also.” These words Jesus spoke in the treasury, as He taught in the temple; and no one laid hands on Him, for His hour had not yet come.
Then Jesus said to them again, “I am going away, and you will seek Me and will die in your sin. Where I go you cannot come.” So the Jews said, “Will He kill Himself, because He says, ‘Where I go you cannot come’?” And He said to them, “You are from beneath; I am from above. You are of this world; I am not of this world” (John 8:18-23 NKJV).
Indeed, those who spoke with Jesus were advised that they could not reach His location in their physical condition. A person of this world cannot be linked with Heavenly matters. Before this dialogue, they had requested Jesus to identify someone who could corroborate His assertion of having originated from God. Jesus promptly responded by saying that His sole testimony was from God, who had sent Him from Heaven. They sought proof of Jesus’ authenticity, yet they could not dispute the truthfulness of His teachings.
Not being of this world, Jesus was to soon disappear, never to be seen again by those belonging to this world. Yet, His presence would eventually lead to the emergence of individuals who would be considered His brethren. These would be the ones ready to forsake their physical state in favour of embracing Jesus’ spiritual state. The sole cause for rejecting the spiritual state is its requirement for the abandonment of the physical conditions. Those dedicated to physical pursuits cannot attain the spiritual state.
The most enduring deception that Satan has perpetuated among humans is the belief that the physical realm is more real than the spiritual. Scientifically, it is undisputed among rational humans that our physical existence is transient. The Jews had been challenging the authenticity of Jesus’ origins, fixated on their perception of the physical reality. It appears they were unable to accept the idea that their existence was as fleeting as their lifespan allowed. Jesus implied that worldly individuals can’t access God’s abode.
We must examine the reasons why such a decree is unattainable, although His disciples are assured of its accessibility. However, those disciples must rigorously adhere to His teachings, without deviation. This indicates that Christianity, while perceived as ordinary, is the most extraordinary endeavour ever presented to this world. One cannot belong to this world and still retain the assurance that they are not of this world. Jesus informed the sceptical Jews that the Heavenly dwelling was beyond their reach. The curious Jews of the past were no different from people living in our times.
To one of the religious leaders, Nicodemus, Jesus proposed the concept of being ‘born again,’ delineating the difference between two realms of existence. Nicodemus seemed unable to grasp the concept of existence beyond the physical body. The underlying truth was that a physical birth led to a temporary and perishable existence, whereas a spiritual birth resulted in an everlasting essence. Through Jesus, the spiritual had been given a physical form. The task at hand was to guide the physically born towards embracing the spiritual Father, thereby accessing the Spirit.
“I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh. For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another so that you do not do the things that you wish. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law” (Galatians 5:16-18 NKJV).
The challenge in question revolves around carnal desires. The body needs essentials like food and water for survival. Carnal desires focus on receiving, often considering giving as a loss. This is in stark contrast to the spirit’s goals, which flourish through acts of generosity, securing its everlasting essence. Ultimately, an individual’s worth in this world is gauged by their ability to enhance the lives of others. Lacking the capacity to contribute to the welfare of one’s peers, casts doubt on the very purpose of one’s existence.
In daily business activities, it is evident that ethical conduct and satisfaction of customers lead to success. This contrasts with unethical practices, where businesses shortchange clients to maximize profits, often driven by the desire for wealth. Attaining wealth secures honour and respect within the community. Consequently, this pride can incite jealousy and a sense of threat when competitors prosper and advance. Individuals may feel threatened when they cannot meet or exceed the performance of their competitors.
Trapped in such a mindset, the individual cannot be convinced to shift their perspective from seeking support to providing for it. This is the dilemma that ensnares humanity. Jesus informed His opponents that He originated from Heaven. Yet, before questioning Jesus’ origin, did they contemplate their own beginnings? What were their origins? Their Scriptures confirmed that they were made in God’s image, thus not unlike God, Himself. Nevertheless, they vehemently rejected this idea, despite its truthfulness. Therefore, unbelief can be seen as the real hindrance.
To overcome disbelief, one must surrender everything, a feat impossible for someone unaware of the potential to exist beyond the physical body. Jesus proclaimed that no one could come to Him unless drawn by God (John 6:44). However, without an individual’s readiness to relinquish all, salvation remains unattainable. The challenge in acknowledging the reality of the spiritual realm is due to Satan, who rules this world at present.
Satan is the god of this world, who the people of this world worship, but assuming to be worshipping the true God. It takes a person having become aware of the falsity of the god of this world to then put trust in the true God. The purpose of Jesus was never to grant deliverance to humans, at this time. The establishment of the Church was meant to select a few individuals who would be willing to renounce everything to follow Christ. Such individuals would then be sufficiently trained, in readiness to rule with Christ, at His second coming.
Revelation 20:2-3 suggests that the ruler of this world will be deposed. Contrary to the common belief that the Bible extends an invitation to all to come to Jesus, it suggests that only a select few are chosen. It distinctly marks the ruler of this world as the source of the false belief that everyone is welcome. The fact that Jesus speaks of some people hearing His voice while others do not, does not suggest immediate condemnation of those not currently recognized as His. Revelation 20:2-7 refers to a future time when Satan will be bound, thus enabling ordinary humans to make informed choices.
“Most assuredly, I say to you, he who does not enter the sheepfold by the door, but climbs up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber. But he who enters by the door is the shepherd of the sheep. To him, the doorkeeper opens, and the sheep hear his voice, and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. And when he brings out his own sheep, he goes before them; and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice. Yet they will by no means follow a stranger, but will flee from him, for they do not know the voice of strangers.”
Jesus used this illustration, but they did not understand the things which He spoke to them. Then Jesus said to them again, “Most assuredly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep. 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” (John 10:1-10 NKJV).
The god of this world has utilized this Scripture to promote the prosperity gospel. However, Jesus speaks of spiritual satisfaction. The elect has in Jesus a singularly good shepherd. This bears no relation to the charisma and capabilities exhibited by many religious figures in this world. Jesus does not fervently implore the masses to come to Him. He states that the sheep recognize Him just as He recognizes them. There is absolute clarity regarding who responds or does not respond to His call. Nevertheless, this does not imply that the called are free from peril.
The desires of the sinful nature, discussed by Paul in Galatians 5:16-18, are distractions for the chosen. No matter how exemplary Jesus is as a Shepherd, it requires the sheep to stay focused and trust Him. Christianity involves navigating through valleys shadowed by death. Isaiah prophesied, “All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned, everyone, to his own way; and the Lord has laid on Him the iniquity of us all” (Isaiah 53:6 NKJV), indicating the possibility of even the elect losing their way. Peter emphasized the judgment, currently underway.
“Yet if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in this matter. For the time has come for judgment to begin at the house of God; and if it begins with us first, what will be the end of those who do not obey the gospel of God? Now ‘If the righteous one is scarcely saved, Where will the ungodly and the sinner appear?’ Therefore let those who suffer according to the will of God commit their souls to Him in doing good, as to a faithful Creator” (1 Peter 4:16-19 NKJV).
The final judgment, as described in Matthew 25:32-46, does not encompass those whom Jesus refers to as His brothers. These ‘brothers’ are presently undergoing God’s judgment. The parable of the ten virgins illustrates that the other five, who did not succeed, are likewise condemned, just as all other sinners will be. This underscores the perilous nature of Christianity. It demands a grave approach to assessing information, with the consciousness of being separate from this world. As the purveyor of deception, Satan presents everything as safe and normal, when in reality, the opposite is true.
While some preachers emphasize the “born-again” concept highlighted by Jesus in His dialogue with Nicodemus as indicative of deliverance, the shadow of death is ever-present. The metaphor of rebirth ought to be comprehended as akin to the gestation process of a baby conceived in its mother’s womb. The spiritual endowment in an individual who has converted signifies their identity as a child of God. However, the risk of spiritual abortion remains significant.
A physically aborted baby is not regarded as a fully mature human. Similarly, a person is considered God’s child upon receiving the Holy Spirit. However, He is yet to be born into God’s family. The critical question is what one does with this divine gift. This is the reason Jesus taught the parable of the ten virgins, highlighting the potential neglect by some believers. The greatest peril lies in living like everyone else in the world while claiming to be a child of God.
Possessing the Holy Spirit does not condone inactivity. For instance, not everyone is destined to write, nor is everyone meant to spread what is written by others. The belief that this is a personal duty is a secular notion. Worldly individuals may feel intimidated by contributions from marginalized sources, which is comprehensible in a world driven by competition and ego. However, this perspective should be different for those who acknowledge the majesty of Jesus Christ. The crucial consideration is how one contributes to furthering God’s mission.
Supporting God’s work often doesn’t require expertise but rather a willingness to assist when necessary. With modern technology, this can include sharing truthful information with as wide an audience as possible. Jesus taught that even giving a cup of water to one of His followers would be rewarded (Mark 9:41). Overemphasis on the origin of truthful information can foster scepticism, as exhibited by some Jews, regarding Jesus’ background. Truth can emerge from any source. It is unnecessary to spend time doubting the integrity of the individual conveying it.
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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