“These men who have turned the world upside down have come here also.” (Acts 17:6 NASB)
The Jewish people of Thessalonica witnessed the work of Paul and Silas and came to the conclusion that they had “turned the world upside down.” They called Paul a fool and a madman, the same thing that was said about the prophet Hosea (Hosea 9:7). These people were not looking at the work the apostles were doing with the eyes of faith; they were looking through the eyes of the flesh and from an earthly perspective. They fumed that Paul and Silas were turning the world upside down; but when we read the Acts of the Apostles with the eyes of faith and view their actions from a heavenly and eternal perspective, we understand that what Paul and Silas were actually doing was turning the world right-side up.
The Gospel makes no sense to the unbelieving world. When we are living out its eternal truths, the eyes of the flesh see it as turning the world upside down. But what is actually happening is that we are being used to put things back in order, the order God ordained from the foundation of creation. You see in the Gospel social barriers being broken down and hearts set free to begin beating for the One who created all things and pronounced them all very good (Genesis 1:31). Paul and Silas were restoring God’s order to this world by saving souls and changing lives for Christ.
There is neither Jew nor Gentile, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. (Galatians 3:28)
The Gospel turns the corrupted systems of this world right-side up. Because the ground is level at the foot of the cross, every single person has dignity, value, and worth. No one is more valuable than anyone else. We are all one in Christ. None of us are needed, but all of us are wanted by Jesus to shine His love light into a dark, disoriented, and desperate world.
Can the same thing be said about you that was said about Paul and Silas? Would unbelievers fuss, “That person has turned the world upside down!” God wants to use YOU to expand the cause of His Kingdom in this world. He delights in giving you opportunities to lead others to Him. When you do this, you will be fulfilling your divine destiny, and you will be used by God to turn a sin-stained, upside-down world right-side up. Let that truth set you free to live with freedom, joy, and faithfulness to Jesus, regardless of the cost or circumstance.
This is the Gospel. This is grace for your race. NEVER FORGET THAT . . . AMEN!
Grace for the Race 