Initially it appears that our choices are rather obvious. We d much rather be the growing tree with the wonderful root system than the withering shrub. And surely we d much rather be considered one of God s righteous rather than one of the wicked. But it starts to get a little confusing when we hit the Lukan beatitudes. This is not new to us.
Scriptural paradoxes are common.
And in spite of the seeming contradictions, there are three very clear statements in these passages. The first statement is that we are expected to make a clear choice. There s no fence sitting when it comes to what God expects of us. Very clearly, if we trust in the Lord rather than in ourselves or others, then we re going in the right direction. These are not totally intellectual, objective, conscious choices.