Millions of people engaged in their ordinary business activities, do not know their true identity. They just believe and accept what is imposed upon them. Though excessively aghast, I forgive those easily offended by the information that goes against their stable datum. It takes only the courageous ones to continue reading, even what is projected in this article. This material is not for the timid—being what caused Jesus to be murdered.
Blessed are the adventurous—willing to explore novel territories. I wonder what goes on in the mind of a grown-up child whose mother discloses the guarded secret about his true father. It takes a highly courageous woman to divulge such secrets, as the ramifications can be very unpredictable. The overwhelming apprehension causes most mothers to prefer keeping such secrets for the rest of their lives.
With the advent of the HIV/AIDS pandemic, those brave enough to confront their HIV status have chances to live longer. This is when compared with those unwilling to confront the truth about their HIV status. The fear of confronting the truth has caused many deaths, unnecessarily. Those in denial might have been comfortable in remaining ignorant but exposing themselves to premature deaths.
Indeed, the greatest apprehension presently gripping humanity is the disclosure of their identity. Do you know the person, with whom you have been interacting? What would be your reaction after knowing that person’s true identity? This can be unsettling when having formed an opinion about that person. So that any disclosure of such a person’s true identity, leaves one uncomfortable. But, perhaps, the greatest trepidation could be the disclosure of your own identity?
Stating the truth that humanity has been enmeshed in the quagmire, far longer than can be imagined, seems farfetched. At the beginning of the first century, a Nazareth called Jesus was murdered, just for revealing the truth about humanity’s identity. If resurrected, those of the nineteenth century could be awestruck—unable to accept as true—the technological advancements of the twenty-first century. Yet those of the current generation also struggle to accept the primitivistic realities of yesteryears.
But the truth about the story of humanity is transcendent and outside the generational considerations. Yet, the disclosure of the true story of humanity is too dangerous. While logic dictates that truth provides safety and survival, those of this world appear as protecting liars, instead of protecting those with the truth. The murder of Jesus reveals how dangerous being truthful can be, yet without reason to back that assertion.
Truth is the only channel through which humanity could be freed. Yet the enslaved humanity find comfort in slavery, rather than accept the maliciously viewed principle of truth. There is no other truth as important as discovering one’s true identity. All matters of survival hinge on the revelation of a person’s true identity.
While quite dangerous, the disclosure of a person’s identity gives freedom from all survival challenges, as currently dogging humanity. This is the fundamental purpose for which Jesus came into this, apparently, condemned planet. The mystery of humanity’s identity was revealed in Matthew’s gospel book:
“When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say the Son of Man is?” They replied, “Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” “But what about you?” he asked. “Who do you say I am?” Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.” Jesus replied, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by flesh and blood, but by my Father in heaven. And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it. I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.” Then he ordered his disciples not to tell anyone that he was the Messiah” (Matthew 16:13-20) (NIV).
As dangerous as He knew the truth about His identity, Jesus ordered his disciples to keep the secret to themselves. This is similar to maintaining the guarded secret about the real father of the innocent child. What makes such information dangerous is the disturbance that this presents to the stable datum of those taking comfort in commonly acceptable information.
When always associated with being a nonentity, any person’s sudden rise to a VIP status can be very unsettling. Equally unsettling is suddenly being brought down to the status of a nonentity, when having been regarded as a VIP. This has always been what causes some people to succumb to illness and die prematurely.
But the most formidable question remains: Do you know the person next to you? That person could be your spouse. Or the one you have always regarded as your own son. Or it could be your former school mate, with whom you grew in the ghetto. Or it could be your gardener, housemaid, or even your own superior. Chances are that if truth was to be revealed about any person’s identity, most people would prefer to disbelieve. Nothing is surprising, as the same experience was accorded to Jesus:
Coming to his hometown, he began teaching the people in their synagogue, and they were amazed. “Where did this man get this wisdom and these miraculous powers?” they asked. “Isn’t this the carpenter’s son? Isn’t his mother’s name Mary, and aren’t his brothers James, Joseph, Simon and Judas? Aren’t all his sisters with us? Where then did this man get all these things?” (Matthew 13:54-56) (NIV).
Those people should not be viewed as different from most people today, whatsoever. If I were to ask the similar question that Jesus asked His disciples, how would anyone reading this article respond to that? “Who do people say Andrew Masuku is?” Those knowing Andrew Masuku would, probably, respond according to their own opinion of who they imagine Andrew Masuku to be.
This would be based on their own experiences, having known Andrew Masuku. But, one among those acquainted with Andrew Masuku might respond thus: “You are the Son of the living God.” To such a person, Andrew Masuku would then respond: “This was not revealed to you by flesh and blood, but by my Father in heaven.”
I suppose most people can, immediately, sense the danger that this imposes? Indeed this appears very dangerous, for mere man, who would be understood as being blasphemous. That, in itself, would be an accusation, not different from the accusation that led to the condemnation against Jesus before His crucifixion:
“They all asked, ‘Are you then the Son of God?” He replied, “You are right in saying I am.” Then they said, “Why do we need any more testimony? We have heard it from his own lips” (Matthew 22:70-71).
The words of Jesus, asserting to being the Son of God, fundamentally, caused His murder. Perhaps it has never dawned on people that the primary reason for remaining in sinful conditions is the inability to appreciate being children of God. Nevertheless, this is the primary reason that can cause anyone to be killed, even today. Although this is as truthful as stating that the sun rises from the East, it carries the danger, inviting murder.
But, why should anyone be accused of being blasphemous, when even the Bible attests to humans having been created in God’s image? Why should this kind of information be regarded as blasphemous, in the first place? Why do humans seem contemptuous of being associated with God, in whose image they were created? I suppose this exposes the kingpin of what causes human suffering in this world? It takes only those willing to brace themselves up to confront the truth, before coming out of the quagmire.
It is undeniable that this world has experienced tremendous advances in the technological field and other areas. Yet the majority of our people still remain embroiled in an identity crisis. There is no other knowledge as redemptive as knowing that one would be the Son of the living God.
Many people attest to loving Jesus. But they do not love His idea of embracing humanity as God’s children. The reversal of their viewpoint starts with identifying themselves as God’s children—leading to grandiose transformation. Such an identity unveils the reality that a human being cannot be categorized by his physical appearance, just as God is not physical.
What characterizes those of this world is fear of death. Yet the one having discovered being God’s child does not fear death, anymore. That person can confront anything without fear, as knowing that humans can only kill the physical body. But the same humans cannot kill that which was created in God’s image, as the person would have recognized. When talking to His disciples, on assumption that they would appreciate this reality after receiving the Holy Spirit, Jesus said:
“Believe me when I say that I am in the Father and the Father is in me; or at least believe on the evidence of the miracles themselves. I tell you the truth, anyone who has faith in me will do what I have been doing. He will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father” (John 14:11-12) (NIV).
This Scripture is not intended for mere worshippers, but for those having recognized their true identity. Like Jesus, they would be the Sons of the Living God. They would not conform to the standards of this world, just as Jesus never conformed to the standards of this world. They would not do anything in this life, without God’s approval, just as Jesus did not do anything without God’s approval.
If we have to correct the mistakes, so as to abide by the principles of what Jesus taught, we have to remove our eyes from human instruments. We have to focus on the exact words of Jesus and ask ourselves how those words apply to us, individually. The careful analysis reveals that God’s children are not under any code of law. They are directed by the Holy Spirit, which makes them peculiar, just as Jesus was peculiar. Those people do not seek human approval, just as Jesus never sought human approval, for His actions.
Although being in this world, those people are not of this world. In other words, you cannot assign the codes of this world to superintend over their behavior. Just as no human being could assign the codes of this world to superintend over their brother Jesus Christ, the same applies to them. They are above anything of this world, just as Jesus was above anything of this world.
Like Jesus who was called upon to calm the stormy crisis in the middle of the sea, God’s children are available for similar services: “You of little faith, why are you so afraid?” Then he got up and rebuked the winds and the waves, and it was completely calm” (Matthew 8:26) (NIV).
At that time His disciples had not yet realized the value of their being God’s children. It is only God’s Children who can be counted upon to handle any crisis in this world. Such Children are expected to make a difference in this, our turbulent world. This is why Jesus declared:
“Believe me when I say that I am in the Father and the Father is in me; or at least believe on the evidence of the miracles themselves. I tell you the truth, anyone who has faith in me will do what I have been doing. He will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father” (John 14:11-12) (NIV).
These people would not be pretenders, but God’s Children, guided by the Holy Spirit, in everything they do. The most interesting thing about the reality of their existence is not being categorized among those of this world. They look common, just as Jesus was common. Ordinary people cannot label God’s Children, just as Jesus was not labeled as God’s Son when He was here. Of course, a few people might be able to spot God’s children, just as a few people managed to spot Jesus, as the Messiah.
Having unpacked the most dangerous information, the question that remains is whether this awakens some people to discover their true identity. God’s children are not racially, or educationally classified, necessarily. Potentially, all humans are God’s children. It takes only the adventurous ones, to become willing to plunge into the most dangerous territory of accepting God as one’s own Father.
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. In a simple conversational tone, most Zimbabweans should find the book as a long-awaited providential oasis of hope.
The Print copy is now available at Amazon.com for $13.99
Also available as an e-copy at Lulu.com for $6.99