The Great Paradox

“He who loves his life loses it, and he who hates his life in this world will keep it to life eternal.” John 12:25

Hates – Are you ready for the rest of the paradox?  Have you settled the issue of what you really love?  Jesus says that if we make this life, the one that we are born into, our closest friend, we discover the first part of the paradox.  Friendship with this life only brings defeat.  We lose.

The second part of the paradox falls into place.  The only way to have everlasting life is to become an enemy of the world.  The Greek word, miseo (hate), means, “to oppose with an active will with both words and deeds.”  It implies deliberate engagement, not passive abstention.  It is a word that sets the priorities.  If I love the world and all that it offers, I cannot love God.  If I love God and all of His character, I cannot love the world.  There is no middle ground.  I am either actively involved in promoting God’s kingdom and glorifying His character or I am engaged in promoting the values of this world.

The world doesn’t like this kind of intolerance.  The culture promotes a laissez-faire attitude toward the things of God.  Oh, it’s OK if you want to be “religious” but don’t push it on me.  In other words, don’t raise any objections to the way that I treat people, the money I spend on myself, the politics of power, the denial of ethical responsibility.  In fact, we usually don’t object unless it directly affects us (and what does that say about who we love?).  If you do stand up, you’re called a fanatic.  That’s terrible.  How will being called a fanatic affect my image (now who do you love?)?

This is a paradox that cuts deeply.  Hate is not a soft and gentle word.  Hating the world requires action.

Can you glorify God and spend His money on symbols of affluence?

Can you glorify God and ignore the AIDS victims, the destitute and the needy?

Can you glorify God and not fight for justice according to His law?

Can you glorify God and avoid sacrifice, self-denial and serving?

Fence sitters beware.  God does not tolerate compromise.  He may not send a lightening bolt to strike you down when you glorify the created instead of the Creator, but you will deal yourself right out of the only life you were meant to live.  No wonder Paul said, “Be angry and don’t sin.”

The paradox of life is this:  Victory comes from surrender to God.  Defeat is the result of fighting for myself.