The World Turned Upside Down

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Acts 17:6

And when they found them not, they drew Jason and certain brothers to the rulers of the city, crying…

This is just an old version of an oft-repeated story. It was laid to the charge of our Master that He was a stirrer of sedition, whereas He had refused to be a king, for He said, "My kingdom is not of this world"; yet was He crucified under the two false charges of sedition and blasphemy. The same thing occurred with the apostles. This plan was followed afterwards. There was never a calamity befell Rome but the multitude cried, "The Christians to the lions! The Christians have done this." And to this day the world still lays its ills at the door of the Christians. Was it not the foolish cry that the great massacre and mutiny in India was caused by the missionaries? But the calumny is too idle to need a refutation. Can it be true, that He whose gospel is love should be the fomenter of disturbance? Did He not Himself pay tribute, and have not His followers at all times been a peaceful generation? — save only and except where the liberty of their conscience was touched. But still, as there is many a true word spoken in jest, so there is many a true word spoken in malice. Christ's gospel does turn the world upside down. It was the wrong way upwards before, and now that the gospel is preached, and when it shall prevail, it will just set the world right by turning it upside down. See this —

I. IN THE WORLD AT LARGE. As regards —

1. Character. In the esteem of men, the kingdom of heaven is something like this. High there on the summit sits the great philosopher, the immensely intellectual man. Just below him there is a class — not quite so skilled, but still exceeding wise — who look down at those who stand at the base as the ignoble multitude who know nothing at all. A little lower down, we come to those who seldom will be taught, because they in their own opinion know all there is to be learned. Then after them come a still larger number, who are exceeding wise in worldly wisdom. Lower still are those who have just a respectable amount of knowledge; and then at the very basement are the fool and the babe. How wide the distinction between the simpleton who forms the base, and the wise man who stands resplendent at the apex of the pyramid! Now, see how Christ turns the world upside down. "Except ye be converted, and become as little children," etc. "God hath chosen the poor of this world," etc. If you wish to see the world turned upside down to perfection, turn to Matthew 5.

(1) "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven." Now, we like a man who has an ambitious spirit, and also a man who has a very fair opinion of himself. But Christ just turns that upside down. The men who have no strength of their own, but look for all to Christ; who seek not to lift their heads above their fellows; who, if they be great, have greatness thrust upon them, but never seek it the world says they are soft; but Christ puts those on the top whom the world puts at the bottom.

(2) There is another lot who are always mourning. They do not let you see it often, but they mourn for their own sin, and then for the sin of the times. The world says they are a moping, melancholy set; but Christ turns the world upside down, and those whom you think to be sorrowful, are the very ones who are to rejoice. Yes, worldling, your joy is like the crackling of thorns under a pot. It blazeth a little, and maketh a great noise: it is soon done with. But "light is sown for the righteous, and gladness for the upright in heart." You cannot see the light now, because it is sown. But when Christ comes to turn the world upside down, they shall be comforted.

(3) Then there is another race called "the meek." I know a man who never feels happy unless he has a lawsuit. A slight affront he would not easily forget. Now the meek are of a very different disposition. They do not put themselves into a passion on a slight affront, for they know that all men are imperfect, and therefore think that perhaps their brother made a mistake. They are quite content to bear and forbear, and put up with a thousand injuries rather than inflict one, though people say, "Such a man as that will never get on; he will always be taken in; he has no strength of mind." Ay, but Christ turns it upside down, and He says, "Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth." Is not that provoking to you graspers, you high-spirited people? you do it in order that you may inherit the earth: see how Christ spites you, and treads your wisdom under feet. After all, the best way to get our rights is to let them alone. The safest way to defend your character is never to say a word about it. Our enemies cannot hurt us, unless we hurt ourselves.

(4) Do you see that gentleman who attends church, reads his Bible, and has family prayers? It is true that he is hard upon his labourers, and exacting at times in his payments; but does justice to all men. This man is on very good terms with himself; and compliments himself on being a very excellent person. If you speak to him about his state before God, he says, that if he does not go to heaven nobody will; for he pays twenty shillings in the pound, and no one can find any fault with his character. Don't you envy him? Well, now, do you see Standing at the back of the church there a poor woman? She dares not speak in the presence of respectable persons; but we gather thus much from her: She has lately found out that she is full of sin, and she desires to know what she must do to be saved. The man stands at the top of the ladder, and this poor woman at the bottom. Now just see the gospel process — the world turned upside down. "Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled."(5) "Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy." The merciful are not much respected in this world; the man who forgives too much, or who is too generous, is not considered to be wise. But Christ declares that he who has been merciful shall obtain mercy.

(6) "Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God." The world says, "Blessed is the man who indulges in a gay life."(7) And now look at the ninth verse. You walk through London, and there, in another place, a duke, a mighty man of war. But Christ says, "Blessed are the peacemakers; for they shall be called the children of God." Here is the world turned upside down. The warrior with his garment stained in blood is put into the ignoble earth, to die and rot; but the peacemaker is lifted up, and God's crown of blessing is put round about his head.

(8) We find a race who have always been hated, about whom He says, "Blessed are they who are persecuted for righteousness' sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven." The whole of these beatitudes are just in conflict with the world's opinion.

2. Maxims. "It was said by them of old time, eye for eye and tooth for tooth; but I say unto you, resist not evil." "Whosoever would sue thee at the law and take thy cloak, let him take thy coat also." "If any man smite thee on the one cheek, turn unto him the other also." "It has been said by them of old time, love thy neighbour and hate thine enemy"; but Jesus Christ said, "Let love be unto all men." We are told that it is good to a man to make himself rich, but Christ called a certain rich man "Thou fool!" You would have made an Alderman of him or a Lord Mayor.

3. Religious notions. The world's religion is — "Do, and thou shalt live"; Christ's religion is — "Believe and live." We will have it, that if a man be righteous, sober, upright, he shall enter the kingdom of heaven; but Christ says — This thou oughtest to have done; but still, not this can ever cleanse thee.

II. IN THE HEART. Man is a little world, and what God does in the outer world, He does in the inner. If any of you would be saved, your hearts must be turned upside down.

1. Your judgment. Cannot many of you say that which you now believe to be the truth of God is very far opposed to your former carnal notions?

2. Your hopes. They used to be all for this world. If you could but get rich, he great and honoured, you would be happy! Now your hopes are not on earth; for where your treasure is, there must your heart be also.

3. Your pleasures. You loved the tavern once; you hate it now. You hated God's house once; it is now your much-loved habitation. The song, the Sunday newspaper, the lewd novel — all these were sweet to your taste; but you have burned the books that once enchanted you, and now the Bible is read and delighted in. The Sabbath was once the dullest day of the week. There are some of you who once loved nothing better than the theatre. You seek now the gathering of the righteous.

4. Your house. Look over the mantelpiece. There is a vile daub of a picture there, and the subject is worse than the style of the thing. But when the man follows Jesus he takes that down, and gets a print of some good old subject representing something Biblical. There is a pack of cards and a cribbage board in the cupboard; he turns them out, and instead he puts there good literature. The children say, "Father is so altered." He used to come home drunk, and the children used to run upstairs; and now little John and little Sarah sit at the window and watch till he comes home, He used to teach them to sing "Begone, dull care," or something worse; now he tells them of "Gentle Jesus, meek and mild." A jolly set of companions he used to have come to see him on a Sunday afternoon; but that is all done with.

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