Living the Paradox
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What is a paradox? Merriam-Webster defines a paradox as: a statement that is seemingly contradictory or opposed to common sense and yet is perhaps true. A couple of examples would be: the more you drink the thirstier you are, one who loves being in the public eye but also deeply values and protects his/her privacy, computers are meant to save people time but need maintenance so often.
Jesus spoke in paradox’ as well, encouraging one to live out the paradox in life. Whoever finds their life will lose it, and whoever loses their life for my sake will find it (Mt. 10:39). For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will find it (Mt. 16:25). Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant (Mk 10:43). Whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted (Mt. 23:12). Humble yourselves before the Lord, and He will exalt you (James 4:10). Humble yourselves therefore under the might hand of God, so that He may exalt you in due time, casting all your care upon Him, because He cares about you (1 Peter 5:6-7). So the last will be first, and the first last (Mt. 10:16). One of Jesus’ most famous and difficult calls to live the paradox is found in Matthew 5:43-44, part of His Sermon on the Mount. Jesus called His disciples to:
“You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven. For he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust.
How are we doing at loving our enemies? When is the last time you prayed for those who are not on your side, who do not share your point of view? When is the last time you interceded for the welfare of all your leaders, not just the one’s you like. When is the last time you have gone the extra mile for someone you dislike or is evil? For someone who uses you, wants to borrow from you or abuses your good nature? Jesus says,
“You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.’ But I say to you, Do not resist the one who is evil. But if anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also. And if anyone would sue you and take your tunic, let him have your cloak as well. And if anyone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles. Give to the one who begs from you, and do not refuse the one who would borrow from you.
To live the paradox of God, one must forgive his or her brother or sister or will be subject to the same judgment as a murderer for anger (Mt. 5:21-22). Haven’t had an adulterous affair, but have you looked at another man or woman, with lust in your heart? Adultery has been committed (Mt. 5:27-28). Tear out your eye, cut off your hand, lose a part of your body rather than your whole person to hell (Mt. 5:29-30).
To live paradoxically, as Jesus did, as God and His Kingdom demand, is to live contrary to the ways of the world. Jesus prayed of His disciples that “they are not of the world as I am not of the world” (John 17:16). Jesus said the world will hate you because you love Me and follow me, living like me, paradoxically (John 15:19). Do not love and desire the things of the world because it kills your love for God (1 Jn 2:15). To live the paradox of Christ is to refuse to be conformed to the molding pressure of the world - it’s attitudes, values, desires, loves and fears (Romans 12:2-4). It is to do good to the ignorant and foolish (1 Peter 2:15), to submit to fallen institutions (1 Peter 2:13-14), to honor your leaders and chief leader and ruler (1 Peter 2:17). To live paradoxically is to endure suffering, either just or unjustly, because Christ suffered for you, for me, for us (1 Peter 2:18-21).
To live contrary to our fallen, sinful nature is the hardest task we will ever face and engage with in this life. It is an impossible task with man, but with Jesus, in Jesus, it is possible (Luke 1:37). If God can save the world through a virgin, He can redeem my soul from the desires of this old man that lives within me (Mt. 1:21-23).
She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.”
To live by the paradox of God, is to live the genuine experience and existence of Christ as the people of God and His Kingdom. It is the call of every man, woman and child who has put their trust in Jesus, the Son of God. It has been the life, and will be the life of every true follower, apostle, disciple and believer in Christ since Jesus gave His life on the cross. It is the rub that seasons and give distinction from a mere believer in God, to a follower of Christ. Be holy as I Am holy, live as I have lived, die as I have died, love as I have loved.
Professer, writer, Bible translator and Ph.D, Karen Jobes states in her study of 1 Peter, and the Christians of that time, comments
Paradoxically, it is their faith in Christ that has put them in jeopardy with respect to their society, but it is that very faith in Christ that identifies them as legitimate heirs, whom God powerfully protects. -Karen Jobes, 1 Peter, 87
Under severe Roman persecution, by the Emperor Nero, who burned Christians as candlelight in his courtyard, the apostle Peter encourages the Believers to live paradoxically in their faith. To trust in their faith in God, to deliever them through faith in Jesus’ work, for their salvation to come, enduring the stuggles of trouble, under the protection of God, activated by their trust in Him. By doing so, the believers will be proven genuine, more precious than gold or silver that will result in praise, glory and honor at the second coming of Christ. To trust God, while enduring suffering, with inexpressible, glorious joy is the call and future of every disciple of Christ living paradoxically in this world. Peter says, we will endure this because of our love for Christ and knowing that we shall recieve the goal of our faith, the salvation of our souls (1 Peter 1:8-9).
How is it possible to live a life contrary to the ways of this world, the Devils playground, and my old man nature? How do we live in a culture that is/has become more and more socially, morally and ethically disconnected from the ways of God? How do we live being progressively alienated every day in a hostile society towards the teachings of Jesus? How do we keep from being conformed to the attitudes, thoughts and ways of this world? How do we live on the margins of society, after God has been the foundation of our society, culture and ethics? How do we live when we have been, I have been rejected, because of Jesus? We trust and praise God.
We trust and praise God!
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you,
who by God’s power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials,
so that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ.
Though you have not seen him, you love him. Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory, obtaining the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls.
We praise God because:
Of His Great Mercy (v.3)
Given us New Birth into a Living Hope (v.3)
An Inheritance (v.4)
Protection by His Power (v.5)
Stuggles of Trials (v.6)
Salvation of our Souls (v.9)
Praise God because of… His Great Mercy
Mercy is to receive pity shown to weak, guilty and undeserving people. We are undeserving people because Jesus died for our sin so that we might have life with God. All who acknowledge, trust and believe in Christ Jesus will live eternally with the Living Hope. Mercy is ultimately not getting what one deserves; and what all humanity deserves is death and eternal seperation from God because of our rebellion towards Him. That rebellion is a refusal to acknowledge, accept and live in relationship with God as His child, not as a god or master. The great mercy of God the Father was that He would choose to give His creation a second chance and buy us back from sin and death through His Son, Jesus’, sacrificed life.
And by that will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.
But when Christ had offered for all time a single sacrifice for sins, he sat down at the right hand of God, waiting from that time until his enemies should be made a footstool for his feet. For by a single offering he has perfected for all time those who are being sanctified.
Am I able to accept pity? If not, you will not be able to accept and believe in Jesus. For to accept Jesus one has to accept God’s mercy, His pity…the Lord Jesus Christ.
I am used to hearing people say they will not receive pity from others. I do not like receiving pity from others. What we are really saying is that I do not want anyone’s mercy, give me what I deserve. That attitude and approach leads to death because everyone who comes to God ,and is accepted by God, has to be/is a recepient of His Great Mercy. No wonder Jesus says it is nearly impossible for a rich man to enter the Kingdom of God, because of pride in what he/she can accomplish on their own (Mt. 19:24).
Then Jesus said to His disciples, “I assure you: It will be hard for a rich person to enter the kingdom of heaven! Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God.”
Everyone with a proud heart is detestable to the Lord; be assured, he will not go unpunished.
Pride comes before destruction, and an arrogant spirit before a fall.
To accept pity, mercy is to live and embrace humility. To say I need help, and accept help, is to cast oneself upon the mercy of God, and those doing what God has encouraged them to do …to love. In order to love, you must be willing to be loved. In order to embrace mercy, you must be willing to receive mercy and give mercy.
What is the depth of God’s great mercy? (Hosea 1-2)
The book of Hosea gives us an idea of the depth of God’s mercy towards us. The prophet Hosea is instructed to take a promiscuous woman as his wife. Hosea follows the LORD’s commands and marries Gomer. Gomer gives birth to two sons and a daughter. They are named Jezreel “God sows”, Lo-ruhamah “No Compassion” and Lo-ammi “Not My People”. The children represent God’s judgment upon His people Israel. Israel is represented by Hosea, His wife Gomer, the pagan nations and cultures around Israel which Israel has persued. Calamity comes down on Israel and God uses the calamity to move Israel into His wilderness of judgment to be rebuked and corrected. Israel will be exposed to be taken advantage of like a woman striped naked (Hosea 2:3). Israel will thirst for water, but remain parched like a desert (v.3). Compassion will not be found, compassion not given (v.4). Israel will seek lovers, but none will be caught; she will be abandoned by those she embraced (v.5-7). Food sources will dry up, the vineyard will not produce, wine will not flow (v.8-9, 12). Her festivals will be no more, God will put an end to their celebration of Him because they do not follow Him (v.11). Israel’s devestation will be exposed to the world for her shame in abandoning her God.
This is what ultimately is in store for each nation and people, including the people of God who abandon Him and His ways. We see the evidence all around us today…in the world…in the church. The cause? A refusal to humble ourselves before God.
The result though, when we humble ourselves before God…life.
“Therefore, behold, I will allure her, and bring her into the wilderness, and speak tenderly to her. And there I will give her her vineyards and make the Valley of Achor a door of hope. And there she shall answer as in the days of her youth, as at the time when she came out of the land of Egypt.
God leads us into the wilderness for correction, but also so that trouble will become a gateway to hope. Our nation is in need of deep correction…the Church is in need of deep correction. We have become too familiar with the ways and desires of the world and forgotten humility and the mercy of God. We need to seek God for forgiveness and intercede on our nations behalf for mercy and a gateway of hope to once again be restored.
God leads a nation and people into the wilderness to sow vigor and response, renewing and resurrecting people to Himself, for Himself.
Wine will once again flow, food will come in season, weapons of war will be shattered, security will be established and remain because God is trusted, respected and honored. God will have compassion and sow compassion. People will no longer not be God’s people, but be God’s people living in humility and compassion for God and others.
New Birth is the result of the Great Mercy of God. Mercy is the result of the Great Love of God. And because of God’s great mercy and love, we have a living hope, an uncorruptable inheritance, a future salvation, protected by God’s power, activated by our trust in God, through every struggle and trial. But because of Christ we rejoice and praise God with an endless joy.
Is this my reality today?
John Calvin said, “Sorrow does not prevent joy, but instead gives place to it.” My affliction, our affliction, gives a home, foundation, an anchor, to our joy in the provision and promises of the Lord.
Our paradox is to live faithfully, expectantly, and joyfully according to the promises of God, while simultaneously facing the trials and temptations of life in the present.
Pastor Eugene Peterson sums up a disciples of Christ in this way:
“A Christian is a person who decides to face and live through suffering. If we do not make that decision, we are endangered on every side. A man or woman of faith who fails to acknowledge and deal with suffering becomes, at last, either a cynic or a melancholic or a suicide.” -Eugene Peterson, Ps 130, The Message.
Trust in God’s mercy and the reality of Jesus’ saving sacrifice, humbiling ourselves before Him, and His will, and suffering gives place to our joy, because we have been found worthy of being a child of the King!
Living paradoxically results in praise, glory and honor at the second coming of Christ. With man this is not possible, but with God, all things are possible (Mt. 19:26). Live paradoxically in this world.