Is everything upside down? ∙

Is everything upside down? ∙

If the world hates you, you know that it has hated Me before it hated you. – John 15:18

Luke 6:22-36

 22 What blessings await you when people hate you, exclude you mock you and curse you as evil because you follow the Son of Man.

 23 When that happens, be happy! Yes, leap for joy! For a great reward awaits you in heaven. And remember, their ancestors treated the ancient prophets the same way.

 27 You who are willing to listen, I say, love your enemies! Do good to those who hate you.

 28 Bless those who curse you. Pray for those who hurt you.

 29 If someone slaps you on one cheek, offer the other cheek also. If someone demands your coat, offer your shirt also.

 30 Give to anyone who asks, and when things are taken away from you, don’t try to get them back.

 31 Do to others as you would like them to do to you.

 32 “If you love only those who love you, why should you get credit for that? Even sinners love those who love them!

 33 And if you do good only to those who do good to you, why should you get credit? Even sinners do that much!

 34 And if you lend money only to those who can repay you, why should you get credit? Even sinners will lend to other sinners for a full return.

 35 “Love your enemies! Do good to them. Lend to them without expecting to be repaid. Then your reward from heaven will be very great, and you will truly be acting as children of the Most High, for he is kind to those who are unthankful and wicked.

 36 You must be compassionate, just as your Father is compassionate.

The phenomenon of refraction leads to an intriguing fact about human vision: everything we see is initially perceived upside down. This might lead one to wonder, why, then, does the world appear right-side-up? The answer lies in the incredible capabilities of the human brain. The brain receives the inverted visual information and almost instantaneously processes and flips it, presenting us with a coherent, upright view of our surroundings. This process is so seamless that we are unaware of the initial inversion.

This raises a philosophical question: if our perception of reality is constructed by our brains, how can we be sure of the true nature of the world around us? Is seeing believing, or is believing seeing? It brings to mind the concept explored in the 1999 blockbuster film “The Matrix,” where the reality perceived by humans is actually a simulated construct, far removed from the true state of their existence. Rather than living in freedom, they are being controlled by machines. They are unaware that the world in which they live is not actually so. Rather, it is merely a computer simulation.

In a similar vein, the teachings of the Lord Jesus Christ often present a perspective on life that seems counterintuitive to our natural instincts and societal norms. The standards He delineates seem incongruent and at odds with the reality of life as we know it.

The Lord Jesus Christ said He was the Truth. His teaching regarding how we are to live and act is seemingly upside down – turning conventional wisdom on its head. His teachings challenge us to adopt attitudes and behaviors that conflict with the realities of our everyday existence.

His thinking appears contrary to what we ostensibly know and is impractical. He advocates for kindness, forgiveness, and selflessness, even in the face of adversity and ingratitude.

As children of the King, what sets us apart? It is our call to stand out, to be the salt and light in our somewhat bland, darkened world.

Just as our brains reconcile the inverted images captured by our eyes, embracing the Lord Jesus Christ’s teachings allows us to navigate the complexities of life with a perspective that may seem inverted. We are encouraged to interact with others and approach situations in ways that defy conventional expectations, prioritizing the needs of others and serving selflessly without complaint.

As children of the King, we must be beacons of light and hope in a world that often embraces contrary values.

“If the Father were not kind to the unthankful and evil, where would any of us be? The Father will always judge sin, but He most desires that we turn from our sin and come to Him” (Stanley).

REFLECT & PRAY

As we look out and observe, what do we see, the world as it appears to be or the world as it really is?

Father I recognize that my opinions and inadequate understanding often come from my limited and wounded heart. May I begin to see things as they really are and stand firmly upon the Truth of Your Word.

INSIGHT

Whether we like it or not, there is a natural, deep-felt antipathy between the children of the King and the children of the god of this world.

John 15:19 If you were of the world, the world would love its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, because of this the world hates you.

James 4:4 Friendship with the world is hostility toward God? Therefore, whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.

At first glance, the world’s response to the Lord Jesus Christ is bewildering, if not inexplicable. How could so many not recognize and value His sheer goodness and immeasurable worth of the Lord Jesus Christ? Why would the world harbor animosity towards those who follow Him, the children of the King?

The answer is simple: the Lord Jesus Christ exposes sin. Just as sunlight uncovers stains and flaws that are overlooked in dimmer light. His presence casts light on the world’s sins, previously hidden in shadows.

People prefer darkness rather than light. When the light of the world made His presence known, folks opted for darkness because darkness concealed their sin. But there’s more. Not only do they prefer darkness, but they also hate light.

John 3:19-20

 19 And the judgment is based on this fact: God’s light came into the world, but people loved the darkness more than the light, for their actions were evil.

 20 All who do evil hate the light and refuse to go near it for fear their sins will be exposed.

Christ’s words and deeds expose the evil that lurks within people. His presence reveals their sin as deliberate and inexcusable. The veil of ignorance is lifted, leaving no room for excuses.

John 8:12 I am the light of the world. If you follow me, you won’t have to walk in darkness, because you will have the light that leads to life.

How deeply tragic! People fall in love with the darkness of sin and rebel against the light. When the light appears, they scurry away, like cockroaches when a light is turned on. They flee from light, having become accustomed to the darkness. This adaptation to darkness is reminiscent of the fish found in Mammoth Cave, which, over time, have lost their eyes entirely, leaving behind only empty sockets where vision once was.

There are two Greek words for evil in these verses. The first is poneros, which means wicked, evil, bad, base, worthless, vicious, or degenerate. The English word pornography is derived from this term.

The second is phaulos. It is more insidious than mere wickedness. The English word paltry comes from this word. It means lacking in importance or worth, trivial, petty, careless, thoughtless, indifferent, inferior in quality, ordinary, meager,or measly.

But there’s more. Darkness is indeed a spiritual reality. It is a place, a kingdom controlled by the enemy. The two driving forces of darkness are mediocrity and degenerate wickedness.

“The men who followed Him were unique in their generation. They turned the world upside down because their hearts had been turned right side up. The world has never been the same” (Billy Graham).

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© Dr. H 2024