The Truth about God’s Kingdom

 

By Andrea Merrell

“My thoughts are nothing like your thoughts,” says the Lord.
    “And my ways are far beyond anything you could imagine.
For just as the heavens are higher than the earth,
    so my ways are higher than your ways
    and my thoughts higher than your thoughts.”

Isaiah 55:8-9 NLT

 

Have you ever considered how God’s ways are contrary to the world’s theology. Some call His methods upside down or backward. But in reality, everything in God’s kingdom is a paradox, a seemingly absurd or self-contradictory proposition.

For example, in The Word for You Today, Carolyn Arends says, “The world offers promises full of emptiness. But Easter offers emptiness full of promise. Empty cross, empty tomb, empty graveclothes … all full of promise.”

To take it further, let’s look at some things that seem counterintuitive to common sense:

• Love your enemies.
• Do good to those who hate you.
• Pray for those who persecute you.
• The more you give, the more you get in return.
• When you’re weak, His strength is made perfect in your weakness.
• God uses foolish things to confound the wise.
• The meek inherit the earth—not the strong and powerful.
• Lose your life so you gain it.

We might view God’s ways as upside-down, but when we embrace them, He turns our life right-side-up because His ways are always best.

Photo by Alex Shute on Unsplash