The Great Reversal

The world is upside down! And hardly anyone knows it.

A great many people equate success with power. They suppose that the way to become powerful—in the home or school, in the business world, or even in the church milieu—is to fight one's way up.

"Get a good education," they say, "whatever you do. Nothing beats the proper training."

"Work hard," others say, "and you'll be successful. Nothing beats good old 'sweat of your brow.' "

"Be prepared to start at the bottom," some counsel. "Nothing beats experience."

And though they would never dare say it aloud, others believe, "Step on a few folks on your way up, if necessary. Nothing beats opportunity."

Jesus had a completely different formula for success. In fact, His definition of success was very different too—not "up" but "down."

-- “You know that the rulers in this world lord it over their people, and officials flaunt their authority over those under them. But among you it will be different. Whoever wants to be a leader among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first among you must be the slave of everyone else." (Mark 10:42-44 NLT)

-- "Anyone who sacrifices home, family, fields—whatever—because of me will get it all back a hundred times over, not to mention the considerable bonus of eternal life. This is the Great Reversal: many of the first ending up last, and the last first." (Matthew 19:29, 30 MSG)

-- “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd sacrifices his life for the sheep . . . No one can take my life from me. I sacrifice it voluntarily . . ." On the cross, "He said, 'It is finished!' Then he bowed his head and released his spirit." (John 10:11, 18; 19:30 NLT)

The Apostle Paul, the all-time great among Christians, also understood the upside-downness of the world's commonly-held view. In the press of a difficult circumstance, he asked God three times for relief. Each time, the Lord answered, " 'My grace is enough; it's all you need. My strength comes into its own in your weakness.' Once I heard that, I was glad to let it happen. I quit focusing on the handicap and began appreciating the gift. It was a case of Christ's strength moving in on my weakness. Now I take limitations in stride, and with good cheer, these limitations that cut me down to size—abuse, accidents, opposition, bad breaks. I just let Christ take over! And so the weaker I get, the stronger I become." (II Corinthians 12:9, 10 MSG)

But what about ordinary people like us? The power of which Jesus and Paul spoke works for us too! "The race is not always to the swift, nor the battle to the strong, nor satisfaction to the wise, nor riches to the smart, nor grace to the learned." (Ecclesiastes 9:11 MSG) Although the Teacher who made this observation concluded pessimistically that sooner or later bad luck comes to all, the truth is this: Everyone has to endure hard things, but only those who know the secret of The Great Reversal can make those difficulties generate power!

MaryMartha

Scripture quotations marked NLT are taken from The Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Wheaton, Illinois 60189. United States of America. All rights reserved. Scriptures marked MSG are taken from The Message. Copyright © 2003 by Eugene H. Peterson. Used by permission of NavPress Publishing Group.