The Bible is filled with accounts of individuals whose lives were suddenly flipped upside down—Adam and Eve after Cain killed his brother Abel; Joseph was sold as a slave; Job lost his children, his livestock, and his health; Jonah was swallowed by a fish; the disciples after they buried Jesus. Other titles for this lesson could be ‘when your life falls apart’ or ‘when your world crumbles around you’. At some point in life, everyone experiences life-altering events. The most difficult are those that blindside you, sometimes happening in only a few seconds. It could be the sudden death of a loved one; a heart attack; an accident; diagnosis of a terminal illness; a tornado, fire, flood, or earthquake destroys your house. You can add to this endless list with what has flipped your world upside down.
The typical first question people ask, “Why Lord?” The cause of tragedy can come for several reasons. First, we must remember we live in a cursed, fallen, and sinful world where disasters occur because nature is just taking its course, where we must toil because the ground is cursed, and where sinful people rule and reign imposing their godless ideologies on others. All of this came because of sin entering the world. Some estimate that 95% of suffering in the world results from the sin. Adam and Eve’s fall didn’t affect just humans it also altered the entire creation. Paul wrote, For we know that the whole creation groans and suffers . . . (Rom 8:22). Yet, the Bible also gives promises of a new and perfect world. For behold, I create new heavens and a new earth; And the former things will not be remembered or come to mind (Isa 65:17). There will no longer be any curse (Rev 22:3).
Second, all believers are fighting a fierce war and engaged in a life and death battle for their faith. Satan never stops searching for ways he can destroy the faith of all who serve God. He will turn your world upside down as often as he can so you become discouraged and doubt God. Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour (1 Pet 5:8). Too often, I hear Christians blaming God and becoming angry with Him when difficulties take place. They don’t recognize the battle they are in with Satan either through ignorance or through unbiblical teaching. New believers can have a false understanding of what Christian life is about. It is not about blessings of wealth, unimpeded success, divine health, or the end of suffering as some teach.
Third, sometimes we are the cause of our world flipping upside down. We can live in ways that bring chaos through unhealthy living, bad decisions, selfish motives, or sin. People have asked me the question, “Why didn’t God create a world without evil and suffering?” The simply answer is, “He did.” God saw all that He had made, and behold, it was very good (Gen 1:31). Desiring that man love Him by choice, He gave man a free will. Had He not given man a free will allowing him to love his Creator, we would be little more than my daughter’s doll that said, “I love you” when she pulled a string. However, Adam and Eve used their free will and chose to disobey the Lord and follow their own desires thus bringing sin, suffering, and death into existence. Adam and Eve flipped their own world upside down.
Last, we must consider one more reason, which people like to avoid. God can permit our world to flip whether from nature, Satan, or ourselves. This most misunderstood reason is that it brings God glory. Job stands out as the best example. In the end the blessings he received from God far out weighted his year of suffering. For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that is to be revealed to us (Rom 8:18). Job’s faithfulness brought glory to the Father and a great defeat to Satan. A second reason God allows adversity is that it causes us to mature in Christ. The athletes in the recent Olympics endured years of pain and suffering to strengthen and mature their bodies in order to stand on a box with a gold metal around their neck. We will receive a crown and eternal life in which no pain or suffering will ever exist again. The last reason God allows our world to flip upside down is for loving discipline. The Lord disciplines those he loves. God disciplines us for our good, that we may share in his holiness (Heb 12: 6, 10 NIV). Discipline is not punishment; it is training and needed corrections in our life.
If something has flipped your life upside down, remember the promise that regardless of the cause, God can take the worst and turn it into the best. And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose (Rom 8:28).
Sustaining Word for the Week: When you flip back right side up, you will be stronger, blessed, and have more faith in what God can do.