Christian Living

Turn the World Right Side Up

by Thomas Kirkpatrick
11/15/21
Free to Share
Author requests article critique

  Message Writer
  Hire Writer

Tweet

“He who goes to and fro weeping, carrying his bag of seed, Shall indeed come again with a shout of joy, bringing his sheaves with him.” (Psalm 126:6)

The Psalm we are looking at was written during the return of the Israelite’s from exile in Babylon. Ezra is the believed author of the Psalm, and it was written as praise to the Lord, who now will turn their sorrow into joy. The Israelites had been in captivity for seventy years, and their seeds had been sown in tears of sadness. It is hard for those who have not been held captive by a foreign government to imagine the pain they must have endured. There is a truth to this Psalm that applies to us today.

Humanity has been held in captivity much longer than the Hebrew nation was in Babylon so many years ago. Since Adam and Eve’s fall to disobedience to God’s Word in the Garden of Eden, all of humanity has been enslaved by sin. All are trapped in a sin-nature inherited from our parents of past and of old. Undisciplined people will always choose evil over good because evil temps the flesh with pleasure. Humanity will always seek the answer within itself to satisfy its selfish independence. How else could one boast their self-pride if credit was given to another? All disobedience to the Word of God falls into three categories and is attributed to covertness. “For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the boastful pride of life, is not from the Father, but is from the world.” (1 John 2:16)

Humanity is held captive to time in a framework revolving around a sun. Humanity is held captive to a world slipping away by our wisp of time here. Yet, our focus is on our love for the world, even as it’s passing away. Humanity is held captive to sin; the worldly way temps us to abide. Some have found the remedy in God’s Word, hope in the Son of God, and have assured freedom. Their perspective is eternal, and they know when the journey here is over, they will have a home in the Kingdom of God.  Most remain captive and strive for pleasures that never satisfy. They are held captive to the wage of sin and the end of their days in the world. After their journey, here comes judgment without any plea but guilty.

Those who have not met Jesus go to and fro weeping, carrying their bag of seed. It is tragic for them to walk with darkness in their soul without hope and joy in their hearts. Those who are being redeemed from their captivity to sin and the world have hope and joy in their hearts, as they know through Jesus their Savior, they will be free. They shall indeed come again with a shout of joy, bringing their sheaves with them. The yoke they carry is a burden of God’s love in their heart and a desire to share the good news of His Kingdom. With shouts of joy, they carry seeds of His truth and long for the day to reap the harvest of His fruit.

The message Christians carry is one of love, God’s love for them, and His love for all of humanity. “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your strength, and with all your mind; and your neighbor as yourself.” (Luke 10:27) The message Christians carry is one of hope for the bewildered who bear the burden of their guilt. “But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” (Romans 5:8)

Christians show the world how God loves them by how they love one another. When Christians gather together, they show love and concern for each other. They build up each other in their faith and exhort each other who display their faith for the world to see. “Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God.” (1 John 4:7) Love is the signature of the follower of Jesus and is how they are recognized in a darkened world. When a person sees one filled with joyful love, they know they’re in the presence of a disciple of Christ. “By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.” (John 13:35)

Unlike natural man, the Christian has been born again with a restored spirit returned to the image of God. The Natural man’s image has been fractured by his sinful nature and cannot comprehend the light of God’s truth. For this reason, there is much work to do in God’s vineyard; the world needs the seeds of His truth. Early in His ministry, Jesus told His disciples this sad reality. “The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few.” (Matthew 9:37) Jesus’ disciples walked with the Son of God for three years, being trained in the gospel of the Kingdom of God to found His Church.

Jesus sent His disciples out as Apostles to teach the Word of God to every ear that will hear. The commission Jesus gave them was not an easy task, and the Church has suffered much for two thousand years. Despite the hardships, the Church has prevailed and shall until the Lord calls them home. In the days of Jesus, He performed many miracles, signs, and wonders, and healed the blind, and made the lame walk. Jesus promised His Church would do greater works than He and it has. Miracles, signs and wonders, and healings continue to this day and shall till the Church leaves this world. Till that day comes, the Church will continue to thrive. “Truly, truly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do, he will do also; and greater works than these he will do; because I go to the Father.” (John 14:12)

The Church will not be defeated but does face a challenge and must remain vigilant in their faith. The Church faces a foe that is filled with deceit and is intent on the Church’s destruction. The disciples of Jesus are willing to suffer all to plant the seeds of God’s truth and claim His victory. “Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, this he will also reap. For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life. Let us not lose heart in doing good, for in due time we will reap if we do not grow weary. So then, while we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, and especially to those who are of the household of the faith.” (Galatians 6:7-10)

Before Jesus ascended to Heaven to be with His Father, He gathered His disciple together and commissioned them for the greatest adventure of a lifetime. “It is not for you to know times or epochs which the Father has fixed by His own authority; but you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be My witnesses both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and even to the remotest part of the earth.” (Acts 1:7-8) His commission is the work of the Church. Sunday is a nice day to gather at the Church with fellow believers and fellowship with one another. It is a sacred day to praise and worship our Lord and Savior. Also, it is a day to learn more about His Word and apply it in faith to our lives. There is a reason for this activity together to work. The Church is to take their bag of seeds of His truth to plant them. The Holy Spirit has equipped us to fulfill that mission. “But to each one is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good. For to one is given the word of wisdom through the Spirit, and to another the word of knowledge according to the same Spirit; to another faith by the same Spirit, and to another gifts of healing by the one Spirit, and to another the effecting of miracles, and to another prophecy, and to another the distinguishing of spirits, to another various kinds of tongues, and another the interpretation of tongues. But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually just as He wills.” (1 Corinthians 12:7-11)

Some plant, some water, and some nourish with much prayer. God causes the growth with much prayer, and a soul is harvested from God’s vineyard and saved from the pit. I seldom see the fruit of my labors, either in my speaking, teaching, or in my blogging. I know from hearsay and notifications there is fruitful, and I am content with that. It is not for my glory, but His and the Lord does the work, and I am the willing. My joy comes through faith, knowing that the promises of God are true, and His Word does not return to Him without accomplishing its purpose. I am happy to do my part to turn the world right-side up. “For who is our hope or joy or crown of exultation? Is it not even you, in the presence of our Lord Jesus at His coming? For you are our glory and joy.” (1 Thessalonians 2:19-20)

The seeds we sow are the work of the Christian. We may sow them in the roughest of places so that the seed may work the greatest of miracles, the resurrection to life. As the body of a soul is planted dead and will rise to eternal life in the power of Jesus Christ. I give Him the glory! “There is one glory of the sun, and another glory of the moon, and another glory of the stars; for star differs from star in glory. So also is the resurrection of the dead. It is sown a perishable body, it is raised an imperishable body; it is sown in dishonor, it is raised in glory; it is sown in weakness, it is raised in power.” (1 Corinthians 15:41-43)

Thomas N Kirkpatrick

First Baptist Church of Durant, September 17, 2020