The difference between Heaven and Earth isn’t primarily about location. When the apostle Paul recounted his conversion on the road to Damascus (Corinthians 12:1-4; Acts 9:3-7; 2), he spoke of being caught up to the “third heaven.” Once a fierce persecutor of the Church, he was transformed into one of its most devoted apostles. That encounter didn’t just relocate him—it made him an entirely new person, utterly removed from the man who had once opposed the faith.
In this sense, Heaven refers to a spiritual state rather than a physical place. Christians undergo a similar transformation, becoming a new creation (2 Corinthians 5:17). The third heaven is distinct from the first (the earthly realm) and the second (the vast expanse of the universe). It is a constant, present reality that reflects the Kingdom of God, as described in Ephesians 2:19-21.
God and Jesus Christ dwell among believers, just as Jesus explained (John 14:15-21). Yet many still assume God exists somewhere in outer space rather than within and among themselves. John emphasized that one cannot genuinely love God while refusing to love a brother or sister nearby (1 John 4:20). If Christians fully grasped and lived by this—recognizing God’s presence in one another—we would see far fewer divisions. The truth is, every human being carries both good and evil within.
Everyone we encounter reveals a mixture of good (reflecting God) and evil (reflecting Satan). The calling of every Christian is to discern what comes from God and what comes from Satan, without labeling or condemning the person. Even someone deeply compromised—a corrupt politician, for example—may at times be used by God. The key lies in recognizing when God is speaking and when it is Satan, regardless of who is talking.
For centuries, philosophers have wrestled with the mystery of human existence but have found little real resolution. People still wonder whether humans are truly distinct from other animals, and if so, what our unique purpose might be. With our supposedly superior minds, why can’t we solve our own problems, including the most basic struggles of life?
Over two thousand years of Christianity, many have claimed to follow Jesus, yet history often reveals a philosophy starkly different from what He taught. Christianity frequently focuses on personal salvation, and ironically, some of the most self-centered individuals can be found within its ranks—sometimes more so than among nonbelievers.
Since we are all made in God’s image, no one is inherently above or beneath another. Possessing more knowledge doesn’t make someone superior; it simply gives them the responsibility to guide others toward the truth. This is precisely where much of Christianity has missed the mark regarding God’s Kingdom. Self-centeredness, tragically, is what often makes the faith appealing to those who lack wisdom.
Those who truly embrace God’s Kingdom understand that Christianity calls them to actively promote altruism. Being part of God’s Kingdom means taking responsibility as God’s children, made in His image. It’s about focusing on what one can give rather than what one can gain.
When Jesus taught about altruism, He was emphasizing responsibility. Those viewed as enemies need understanding and guidance more than they need rejection for their ignorance. His message was not a call to superficial or automatic affection, but a genuine summons to take responsibility for living out the principles He taught:
“You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Aren’t even the tax collectors doing that?” (Matthew 5:43-46, NIV)
Jesus placed responsibility at the very center of what it means to be human, urging people not only to love but also to pray for their enemies. Yet many modern Christians dismiss this, claiming such expectations are beyond human ability. With that mindset, it might be better not to claim the title of Christian at all. While Jesus is often regarded as fundamentally different from ordinary humans, those who call themselves Christians should strive to reflect His example. Being a Christian means truly identifying with Jesus in action, because Christ lives within such a person.
Today, it’s common to see people masking their disregard for His teachings with outward displays of devotion—honoring Him as part of the Trinity while ignoring His message. Immersed in worship and seeking comfort in faith, many fall into the trap of loving a Jesus they don’t really know. They reshape Him into a figure of their own imagination rather than recognizing Him in the people around them, which runs directly counter to the heart of His teaching.
“If you love me, keep my commands. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever—the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you. I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you.” (John 14:15-18, NIV)
Some mistakenly believe He was referring to the Ten Commandments, but He was really calling us to take up the weighty responsibility of carrying a misguided humanity. In Matthew 5:43-46, Jesus gives commands that are often overlooked by theologians. This refers to people who regard Him as part of the Trinity, yet falling short of truly loving Him, as they ignore His words.
Jesus knew this message wouldn’t draw massive crowds, yet it remains as steady and dependable as the sunrise. This responsibility isn’t about worship alone—it’s about recognizing that we are made in God’s image and understanding that the absence of goodness in us often stems from our own inaction. Blessed are those who grasp that they were born to bring hope into hopeless situations.
Today, the pursuit of profit often overshadows the call to serve others freely. Helping without expecting anything in return builds God’s Kingdom and reflects the selfless values Jesus embodied. While earning money can support good causes, too often it means placing profit above people—measuring success by income rather than by the good done for others.
Those who seek to be part of God’s Kingdom must hold this truth firmly: From this misplaced priority spring many of humanity’s problems, including corruption. Numerous so-called successful businesspeople sit comfortably amid luxury and admiration. The spirit of service is often lost once the pleasures of abundance and the comfort of others’ praise take hold.
Humanity’s troubles could be vastly reduced if the dignity of human life were respected and upheld by all. It’s no secret that some people love their pets more than they love fellow humans, and among animal lovers, this is often seen as virtuous. Yet this mindset drifts far from the truth that Jesus died for humanity, not for animals.
Looking closely, even the most devout Christians often struggle to embody true altruism. At its highest point, altruism is recognizing the divine identity of humanity—inseparable from God. Humans were made to be causes, not mere effects, in their environments. One cannot genuinely claim to love God without also loving one’s fellow human beings.
Today, the world suffers more from ignorance than from accidents and causes of human suffering. The Kingdom of God can be brought about by human effort; it is not something forced upon us, but willingly adopted according to Jesus’ teachings. This means it is possible to experience God’s Kingdom in this life. The main obstacle is fear, born from the shadows of darkness, brought about by ignorance.
Ignorance fuels the forces of darkness, stirring chaos among people. Embracing altruism means choosing to reject those dark influences before truly experiencing God’s Kingdom. These dark forces lead people to believe that survival depends more on self-protection rather than on helping others. They blind them to the truth that real survival comes from protecting others above oneself. Altruism isn’t a lofty mystery—it pairs naturally with the principle of reciprocity.
Those who make life chaotic are often simply people unwilling to face their own flaws, and the attitude of “mind your own business” only helps keep things broken. We are at our most human when we step in to help others, and at our least human when we refuse. Crime often grows from a lack of responsibility, a habit encouraged by societies that treat keeping to oneself as a virtue.
Even tithing can become self-serving if it’s only about securing personal blessings instead of lifting others up, adding to the confusion. Without altruism, humanity slides downward. I once hated watching wildebeests stand by while one of their own was taken by a lone lion—how could hundreds do nothing? Later, I realized that, in God’s design, this is part of the natural balance that sustains predators.
But humans were never meant to be prey for other creatures, let alone to exploit one another. True safety comes from embracing altruism. If a neighbor abuses his wife, the community should hold him accountable; no one should ignore harm to a vulnerable woman under the excuse of an adage, “minding one’s own business.”
I remember a Christian brother once telling me that believers shouldn’t concern themselves with the evil in the world, insisting they can’t make a difference in a place so corrupt. He claimed Christians should just wait for God’s Kingdom, since only Jesus could set things right. To me, this reflects how profoundly some have been led astray in their faith. It is exactly like the servant in Jesus’ parable who buried his talent instead of using it.
“Then the man who had received one bag of gold came. ‘Master,’ he said, ‘I knew that you are a hard man, harvesting where you have not sown and gathering where you have not scattered seed. So I was afraid and went out and hid your gold in the ground. See, here is what belongs to you.’
“His master replied, ‘You wicked, lazy servant! So you knew that I harvest where I have not sown and gather where I have not scattered seed? Well then, you should have put my money on deposit with the bankers, so that when I returned, I would have received it back with interest. So take the bag of gold from him and give it to the one who has ten bags. For whoever has will be given more, and they will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what they have, will be taken from them. And throw that worthless servant outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’” (Matthew 25:24-30, NIV)
Sadly, this parable mirrors the reality for many who call themselves “Christians.” They steer clear of trouble while looking down on those who challenge corrupt systems—like the oppressive government of Emmerson Mnangagwa—twisting Scripture to avoid responsibility. Lately, courageous people, including young women, have faced more criticism than support from those who should stand beside them, often from those pious Christians focused only on personal survival, with little sense of duty.
Normally, the term, “mind your own business,” might be easy to adopt, but requiring to be discarded for the entire nation to win against dictatorship. The lone voices of people like Hopewell Chin’ono offer hope, yet much of the population remains lifeless, moving like a herd of wildebeests. Corrupt figures, openly known for destroying the economy, are embraced by many struggling citizens who, instead of expressing outrage, blame God for the existing hardships. Even mysterious disappearances, branded “political,” are brushed off as if normal, as long as not affect one’s own family.
We live in a world where those who do the right thing are often frowned upon, while those causing chaos are protected. Many of humanity’s problems stem from corrupt practices that exploit Christianity for personal gain. Many spend their time praying to God for protection, yet perhaps God is keeping them alive to give them a chance to repent from their disgusting wrongdoing. The Preacher is captured as having lamented:
“In this meaningless life of mine I have seen both of these: the righteous perishing in their righteousness, and the wicked living long in their wickedness.” (Ecclesiastes 7:15, NIV)
God is actually pleased to see the righteous die, rather than the wicked. “Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his faithful servants.” (Psalms 116:15, NIV) This refers to people who die while staying true to what they believe is right. Though the world is far from perfect, it has still produced a few remarkable people who have made a real difference in advancing God’s Kingdom. Such progress comes from those who value and embrace responsibility. Jesus gave the most profound message supporting God’s Kingdom:
“So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets.” (Matthew 7:12, NIV)
This Scripture isn’t mysterious at all—it’s for everyone. It’s about caring for others, regardless of race or background, and it stands firmly against the idea that wealth is proof of God’s favor while so many suffer in poverty. Many fail to realize that God’s Kingdom is made visible through genuine Christianity. The Lord’s Prayer, given by Jesus as a pattern for how to pray, says it plainly: “Thy Kingdom come, Thy will be done on Earth as it is in Heaven.”
The absence of God’s Kingdom and His will on Earth—the very thing the prayer asks for—shows that something is deeply amiss in Christianity. If every Christian truly lived out the principle embedded in that prayer, the world’s problems would look vastly different. It’s a call for genuine change within the Christian community, which too often reflects falsehood instead of God’s truth. Yet there is no reason to lose hope. Sharing messages of God’s Kingdom, such as this one, can go a long way toward making a real difference.
Andrew Masuku is the author of Dimensions of a New Civilisation, 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, relieving those who have witnessed the strings of unworkable solutions, leading to the current economic and social decay. Most Zimbabweans should find the book to be a long-awaited providential oasis of hope, in a simple conversational tone.
The Print copy is now available at Amazon.com for $13.99
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