Acts Day 193 - The World Turned Upside Down

17:6 But when they did not find them (Paul etc...), they dragged Jason and some brethren to the rulers of the city, crying out, “These who have turned the world upside down have come here too. 7 Jason has harbored them, and these are all acting contrary to the decrees of Caesar, saying there is another king—Jesus.”

I've always been blown away by this passage. The year is A.D. 50 or 51. Jesus has been gone for about 20 years. Thessalonica is almost 1000 miles or 1500km from Jerusalem in a straight line (as the bird flies). The language is different. The culture is different. They have almost nothing in common and yet when these men complain to the city officials about the teachings of Paul they make the astounding statement that Paul and his companions have turned the world upside down.

The world has been impacted by what started out as 11 basically unschooled men with few resources in 20 years. They had no media to advertise through. They had no fast modes of transportation. They really had nothing but an experience with Jesus and a Story to tell based not only on His life but backed up by the sacred writings passed down from Moses and the prophets.

The Seventh-day Adventist Church started in Northern New England in the 1850's and became official in 1863. It was started by a scattering of poor farmers. They too had little for resources, education, or means to spread their message quickly. Today it has over 20 million people gathering together each Sabbath all over the world. It has the largest medical and education systems second only to the Catholic Church. The growth and speed of that growth makes no logical sense.

What it all illustrates is the power of the Message and the Message remains the same now as it was way back in Thessalonica. The only Message that has the power to turn the world upside down is the Story of Jesus.

"For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him will not perish but have everlasting life."

That's the Story. Love is the Story. Hope is the Story. Happily Ever After is the Story. Love has Won and anyone can choose to embrace Him.