Revelation 18:1-13
"Babylon" is the focus today in Revelation 18:1-13. While John is describing Babylon as a great city here in Revelation 18, it is uncertain whether this is an actual city or not. Babylon, as it is set out here, is typically seen as a metaphor for the commercial and religious system left after the true Church has been raptured. What we see is that evil and wickedness are prevalent and sinful behaviors and attitudes rule the day.
These verses on Babylon give us a vivid picture of the sinful attitude and mindset that develops when we allow our wants and our desires to become our focus--we push God off the throne, the place that is rightfully His in our lives, and elevate ourselves to that position. Verse 7 was particularly telling "In her heart she says 'I sit as queen, I am no widow, and mourning I shall never see.'" All I could think after reading this was Yikes!
So how do we make sure that God is, and remains, number one in our lives? What are some checks and balances we might use to guard against our tendency to crowd in on God's place and control? Tami W.
HI TAMI
GOD ONLY WORKS ON A WILLING, CONTRITE AND PENITENT HEART. WE CANNOT MANAGE SATAN AND HIS DEMONIC HOSTS ON OUR OWN. GOD KNOWS THIS AND STILL ALLOWS US FREE WILL FOR A PURPOSE. I BELIEVE THAT WHEN WE USE OUR FREE WILL TO REACH OUT TO GOD BY SEEKING OUT HIS WORD, BY SHARING WITH OTHER BELIEVERS, BY RECOGNIZING THAT SINCE GOD LOVES US SO MUCH WE ARE WORTHY TO BE LOVED BY OURSELVES AND MUST FOLLOW HIS INSTRUCTIONS TO "LOVE OTHERS AS WE LOVE OURSELVES", GOD RECOGNIZES OUR EFFORTS AND COMES TO OUR ASSISTANCE.
GOD IS NOT "PUSHY" WITH HIS LOVE THEREFORE WE MUST MAKE THE INITIAL EFFORT TO REACH FOR HIM, HE IS NEVER FAR AWAY, AND WE WILL SEE HIS LOVE IN TANGIBLE WAYS.
WHEN WE SEE BELIEVERS FACING SERIOUS CHALLENGES FROM THE ENEMY SUCH AS HEALTH, FAMILY AND FINANCIAL YET THEY ALWAYS HAVE AN ENCOURAGING WORD FOR OTHERS, ALWAYS SPEAK ABOUT OUR LORD AND SAVIOR AND, YES, ALWAYS PRAY UNCEASINGLY, THIS IS THE HAND AND LOVE OF GOD IN ACTION. WE MUST REACH OUT TO GOD FIRST THUS PUTTING HIM IN THE NUMBER ONE POSITION THAT HE IS MORE THAN DESERVING OF.
REGARDS IN CHRIST
CECIL
I think not eating drinking and living in the lap of luxury would be a good start. I think I've been guilty of this. This one woman causes a lot of other people on the earth even the kings to do the same. How sad. I pray Jesus will open the doors he wants open to us and close the others. That he will be our guild in all things, that we will be found guiltless in these days. Amen
It is sad. I don't think God wants us to live in poverty. We should use our resources not on wanteness but as good stewards. Sometimes I am guilty of that. Not wanteness just not being a good steward. But we should do what God puts on our hearts, as we have the ability, maybe more but no less. Our hearts must be in the right place and not boasting or arragant. More Blessed to give than recieve. But It is better to be loving and kind than to give gifts without love. Praise Him who gives us all things.
Babylon I believe could be referring to all those who oppress the poor and the needy and because of their greed, lust, envy and selfishness bring honest people down. We must learn from Jesus to be humble and as He says love each other as He has loved us and as His Father has loved Him. If we do this we will care for others and work with and pray for them. If we believe in Jesus and obey Him then as He promises, we too can have eternal life and have no need to worry because what He says He will do. If we pray for others God will hear and answer us. So that we are strong we have to read and study His Word to be near Him at all times.
Just a quick thought as I end my day. Keep it simple. We don't need a lot of things, and we don't need to be busy with activities all day every day. If we keep it simple, we have more time for God's things.