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 When
in Australia I was constantly reminded of what I considered to
be my "upside down" position. The cold wind blew from
the south, spring began in September, the sun arched to the
north, etc., etc. How could my Aussie friends seem so "at
home" in such an upside down country? Then it occurred to
me, if civilization had had its beginning in the southern
hemisphere, and world exploration and map making had been from
here, the U.S. would be upside down. My homeland would be
"down-under." It all depends on one's point of
reference.
And
I remembered that when the disciples of the Lord argued
concerning the "greatest" in the kingdom, Jesus said,
"he that is least among you all the same shall be
great" (Luke 9:48). The Lord's kingdom is "upside
down" using man's conception of greatness as a point of
reference. But if we are able and willing to accept the Lord as
the standard it is our concept that is upside down, and His way
is "right side up."
A
paradox is "a tenet contrary to received opinion ...
that yet may be true in fact." It is seemingly
contradictory, but only because we measure it by incomplete standards.
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The whole truth includes things
not generally recognized in our limited experience.
How
could the meek inherit the earth? You need not ask a bold and
presumptuous J. W. to answer. How can we gain our life by losing
it? Or be a Master by serving? The paradoxical nature of these
statements is such only when we view them from our materialistic
point of reference. They are upside down statements only when
considered from our upside down position. But when Jesus taught
these truths He had the true perspective (Matt. 5:1-f; 10:39;
20:25-28). He saw clearly what we see but dimly, if at all. He
pointed man to a right side up standard.
For
Jesus saw life in an eternal reference. Man's life is but a
brief pilgrimage, time is fleeting, even the "heavens and
earth" shall pass away. Centuries of generations have
demonstrated the correctness of His greater view — the
futility of man's upside down philosophy. Must we wait until
irrevocable judgment proves it?
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