The Adventures Of One Man!
Romans 5
KJV
12+ Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:
This verse has been subjected to many interpretations with to proving that modern man is not responsible for his sins! That Adams should be blamed because it was his action /sin that spilt over.
Tje Truth Of The matter is, yes we did not sin so we are not guilty but the consequences of Adam’s sin, which is death is what we have inherited.
And it was this very reason that one man also came into the world to deliver us from this very consequence.
Read
Romans 5:15,17-19
NIV
[15] But the gift is not like the trespass. For if the many died by the trespass of the one man, how much more did God's grace and the gift that came by the grace of the one man, Jesus Christ, overflow to the many!
[17] For if, by the trespass of the one man, death reigned through that one man, how much more will those who receive God's abundant provision of grace and of the gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man, Jesus Christ!
[18] Consequently, just as one trespass resulted in condemnation for all people, so also one righteous act resulted in justification and life for all people.
[19] For just as through the disobedience of the one man the many were made sinners, so also through the obedience of the one man the many will be made righteous.
So you see, one man through disobedience brought death, another through obedience brought life, it’s always a matter of choice.
We see this in history either as a nation, family, church or community. One man’s adventure can result in a good or bad outcome, which can influence future generations
Europe came into contact with Africa not as an official policy but through the adventures of individuals.
Portugal came into contact with the Gold Coast through the adventures of an individual “ Don Diego de Azambuja”. A name I nearly adopted as a “nickname “when I was in primary school just because it sounded nice in my ears! Hmmm.
British interest and influence in the Gold Coast was not through official channels but through the adventures of an individual Captain George Maclean.
Trace the history of all the external contacts Africa has with Europe and you’ll be amazed at how these came through the adventures of individuals
Names like Mungo Park, David Livingstone, Vasco Da Gama, Christopher Columbus etc all point to the role individuals played in linking civilisations together.
But you may be wondering why all these “ discourse ?”
It is to make the point that history is about individuals and not a collective. Collectives don’t make history it is individuals.
Committees/commissions etc; don’t make history it is individuals, they only help or assist an individual whose name at the end of the day is attached to the Report.
You’ve heard of the 1948 Watson Commission Report. The justice Ollenu Commission Report, Justice Archer Commission Report, justice VCRAC Crabbe Report, Emile Short Report etc
When it comes to the church of Christ Ghana, one individual stands tall as the one whose singular effort to know and practice the truth has resulted in the thousands of churches of Christ we see in Ghana today!
John Gaido is the name. So when you lift your hands in praise of God, if you beat your chest because you know the truth, do not forget the individual through whom God made this possible.
Whether we like it or not we cannot deny the role and place of John Gaido in the history of the churches of Christ, Ghana. His singular effort is what has brought us this far.
Yes, history is not made by a collective but by an individual! What is there to be credited to your name?
In political discourse and governance ; you hear more of the “ Nkrumah administration “ the Busia Administration, Limann, Rawlings, Mills, Mahama, Akkufo Addo administrations. Very little almost forgotten collective administrations such as the NLC, SMC, PNDC!
History is made by individuals and not a collective. Individuals are remembered not a collective.
As I watch the growth and spread of the churches of Christ these thoughts flowed through my mind.
Those of us who are drinking from Wells we never dug, should not forget those who dug them.
If today you are leading a nation, group, family, congregation etc that you were never a part of it’s established, do not forget those who laid down their lives, time, talent, resources etc to bring it into existence
Church of Christ, Ghana owes a lot to an individual-John Gaido!
My thoughts as usual to share. From one man’s spiritual adventure has resulted the salvation of the many!