I know it’s a New Year and time to move forward, but let’s do so by understanding that the way forward is at best, backwards. It’s called “Backwards Theology” and it makes up the blueprint of God’s economy. Consider this: you’ll never understand the depth of faith that is obtained through suffering until you suffered through to know faith. It’s how one can know liberty through adversity. Peace through chaos. Gain through loss.  It’s backwards, but it’s used by God to bring us forward.God chooses to make much of Himself through those who choose to make less of themselves, “that no flesh should glory in His presence" (I Corinthians 1:29).  Think about it!  It’s not that you're thinking less of yourself, but that you're thinking more about God and His glory. This type of humility brings you down, allowing God to bring you up. This type of integrity cleans up the inside, allowing God to manifest it for His use on the outside. It’s backwards, but it’s forward.It’s so outrageous; it’s evident that man did not make it up.  A God on high who chose to come low to show man the only way to go.  Ridiculous! And that’s why it’s unique to righteousness. God says, “Admit you have sin and choose my Son and I’ll take away your sin and give you the righteousness of my Son.” Outlandish! Yet man would never serve such a dish. Man creates religions that can be figured out and planned out. They're too forward!  But only God can do backwards, like writing the end in the beginning and “declaring the end from the beginning” (Isaiah 46:10). Backwards indeed, but done to take us forward.Not the mighty, the noble, or the wise; He chooses the weak, the base, and the fools.  Not foolish as in stupid, but foolish as it pertains to the one who knows that without Him you cannot do it.  Do what? Do anything! You see a wise fool is one who knows nothing but Christ.  But a fool’s wisdom is to think you know everything as it pertains to life. “God has chosen the foolish things of the world to put to shame the wise…” (I Corinthians 1:27).“Backwards Theology” lets go to be held onto.  It gives to get. It dies to live. It’s hated, yet it still shows love. It’s being a prisoner to the truth that sets one free; just as being attached to the Word makes me detached from me. Backwards to go forward in faith. It’s having the calendar year of 2017 all figured out because you know that living with Christ day by day is what life is all about.