The Power of Paradox

Those of you that know me well know I love music. There are some word-smiths in the music industry that say things in a way that I cannot. One of my favorites is Michael Card. He has a way of expression that is able to say things I struggle to put into words. God has used this servant’s words many times in my life to speak deeply to me.

I was recently listening to a song he wrote years ago. In a song I have heard dozens of times in the past, a phrase jumped out at me. It is amazing how the Holy Spirit can enlighten us in His timing with a verse or a song or something we have heard many times previously. Like in this example, something you have read or heard before, but today He chooses to open your eyes.

The phrase is, “The Power of Paradox will open your eyes and blind those who say they can see”. Michael Card was singing about scripture’s statement that “God’s ways seem foolish to man”. He goes on to say, “So we follow God’s own fool, because only the foolish can tell. Believe the unbelievable. Come be a fool as well”. That message resonates deep in my soul.

The paradox of the gospel makes no sense to natural man; “The first will be last and the last will be first”, “I have come to serve, not be served”, “You must die to yourself before you can really live”, “If someone strikes you on one cheek, turn the other cheek”, “Forgive and pray for your enemies”, etc. Natural man asks questions like these. How can the last be first? How can you die to live? Why would I turn the other cheek? Why should I pray for my enemy?

The paradox is that these things set you above your circumstances in life, but they can only be understood in the context of Kingdom living. As humans our nature is to put ourselves first. But no matter how many things go our way or how much stuff we can accumulate we are never satisfied. Another of my favorite word-smiths, Rich Mullins, sang, “Everybody I know says they just need one thing. What they really mean is they need just one thing more”. We never have enough things to finally be satisfied.

The passage that pulls this thought all together for me is Galatians 5:16-26. In this passage Paul describes the difference of being led by our human nature or being led by the Spirit. Verse 16 says, “Let the Spirit direct your lives and you will not satisfy the desires of the human nature”. Paul goes on to make two lists; one human nature controlled and the other Spirit controlled. Toward the end of the passage in verse 25 Paul says, “The Spirit has given us life, He must also control our lives”.

We are born helpless babies with no control of our lives, but quickly fight to get control. We don’t have to teach our kids to say “mine” or “no”. It is in their nature. They want control. As teens we fought to get control of our lives from our parents. As adults we struggle to control what is going on around us. Our human nature desires control. That is why we must be born again. “Flesh gives birth to flesh; Spirit gives birth to spirit” (John 3:6).

The scriptural paradox is to give up our control and give control to the Spirit. Such surrender produces the “Fruit of the Spirit”; “love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, humility and self-control” (Galatians 5: 22-23). Things we all desire and achieve briefly throughout life, but we can’t seem to hold on to them because we struggle to let go. We try to accomplish these things by our own strength. However in our fallen state we cannot live that way.

So here is the paradox. Surrender yourself to the Spirit (die to self) and you will really live (the abundant life). There was a book written years ago, “What Would Jesus Do?” A Pastor was moved by the Spirit to challenge his congregation to ask themselves that question before they made any decision; “What would Jesus do?” If you haven’t read the book I suggest you find it and read it. What would Jesus do about that business decision? What would Jesus do with the resources God has given you; time, talent and treasure? What would Jesus do for a friend in need? What would Jesus do for your wayward child?

Of course, in order to truly know the answer of what Jesus would do, you need to read and understand the Gospels; what Jesus did do and what He did say. Explore the Power of Paradox. “The Power of Paradox will open your eyes and blind those who say they can see”.