So, I finished the through-the-Bible-in-a-year reading plan that I resolved to follow last January. What an amazing experience! I learned a lot, and I have grown in ways I did not anticipate. This week's lessons were from Revelation:
Regarding the fall of "Babylon" in Revelation 18, I read: "Therefore, the sorrows of death and mourning and famine will overtake her in a single day. She will be utterly consumed by fire, for the Lord God who judges her is mighty. And the rulers of the world who took part in her immoral acts and enjoyed her great luxury will mourn for her as they see the smoke rising from her charred remains. They will stand at a distance, terrified by her great torment. They will cry out, 'How terrible, how terrible for Babylon, that great city! In one single moment God's judgment came on her." vs 8 - 10. It goes on to say, "All the fancy things you loved so much are gone," they cry. "The luxuries and splendor that you prized so much will never be yours again. They are gone forever." vs 14. Then: "But you, O heaven, rejoice over her fate. And you also rejoice, O holy people of God and apostles and prophets! For at last God has judged her on your behalf." vs. 20.
I know that "Babylon" is a specific power and this event comes at a specific time, but for me, I think it could have a broader meaning. There are things in each of our lives that are like Babylon. Things, places, people, ideas that take the place of God in our lives. There is a time coming, I believe, when God will shake the proverbial rug out from under us, where our comfort will no longer be there, and we will not be able to rely on the things we currently use to feel secure.
This makes me wonder, how will I feel when the things of this world change rapidly? Will I be like Lot's wife, when, leaving Sodom, she looked back and turned to a pillar of salt? Is my faith in the God I know and love, who will protect me, or is it in myself, my belongings, or my sense of control over my environment?
The next chapters in Revelation go on to describe God's daring resue of our out-of-control planet at the end of time. This is a scene of awe and beauty. Of our Knight-in-Shining-Armor coming to rescue us, where we live happily ever after in a celestial city of gold, with God himself living right there with us, where we will finally be able to see him for ourselves. I long to be part of this amazing event.
My New Year's resolution this year will be to focus on the things that really matter: connecting with people on a more personal level and nurturing important relationships, focusing on the things that can't be taken away. Less focus on me, less stress about controlling the things that I really can't control anyway. A more simple faith, based on God, not on me. I will seek Him more, listen more, talk less.. Hmmm....
Regarding the fall of "Babylon" in Revelation 18, I read: "Therefore, the sorrows of death and mourning and famine will overtake her in a single day. She will be utterly consumed by fire, for the Lord God who judges her is mighty. And the rulers of the world who took part in her immoral acts and enjoyed her great luxury will mourn for her as they see the smoke rising from her charred remains. They will stand at a distance, terrified by her great torment. They will cry out, 'How terrible, how terrible for Babylon, that great city! In one single moment God's judgment came on her." vs 8 - 10. It goes on to say, "All the fancy things you loved so much are gone," they cry. "The luxuries and splendor that you prized so much will never be yours again. They are gone forever." vs 14. Then: "But you, O heaven, rejoice over her fate. And you also rejoice, O holy people of God and apostles and prophets! For at last God has judged her on your behalf." vs. 20.
I know that "Babylon" is a specific power and this event comes at a specific time, but for me, I think it could have a broader meaning. There are things in each of our lives that are like Babylon. Things, places, people, ideas that take the place of God in our lives. There is a time coming, I believe, when God will shake the proverbial rug out from under us, where our comfort will no longer be there, and we will not be able to rely on the things we currently use to feel secure.
This makes me wonder, how will I feel when the things of this world change rapidly? Will I be like Lot's wife, when, leaving Sodom, she looked back and turned to a pillar of salt? Is my faith in the God I know and love, who will protect me, or is it in myself, my belongings, or my sense of control over my environment?
The next chapters in Revelation go on to describe God's daring resue of our out-of-control planet at the end of time. This is a scene of awe and beauty. Of our Knight-in-Shining-Armor coming to rescue us, where we live happily ever after in a celestial city of gold, with God himself living right there with us, where we will finally be able to see him for ourselves. I long to be part of this amazing event.
My New Year's resolution this year will be to focus on the things that really matter: connecting with people on a more personal level and nurturing important relationships, focusing on the things that can't be taken away. Less focus on me, less stress about controlling the things that I really can't control anyway. A more simple faith, based on God, not on me. I will seek Him more, listen more, talk less.. Hmmm....
