The Lament Continues (Rev. 18:14-19)

SPIRITUAL DIARY FOR

10/21/2005

My Worship Time                  Focus:  The Lament Continues

Bible Reading & Meditation             Reference:  Revelation 18:14-19

            Spiritual meaning for my life today:  “"The fruit you long for has gone from you, and all things that were luxurious and splendid have passed away from you and men will no longer find them.15 The merchants who became wealthy by selling her these things will stand at a distance, terrified by her great torment. They will weep and cry.  16 ‘How terrible, how terrible for that great city! She was so beautiful—like a woman clothed in finest purple and scarlet linens, decked out with gold and precious stones and pearls!  17 And in one single moment all the wealth of the city is gone!’ And all the ship owners and captains of the merchant ships and their crews will stand at a distance.  18 They will weep as they watch the smoke ascend, and they will say, ‘Where in all the world is there another city like this?’  19 And they will throw dust on their heads to show their great sorrow. And they will say, ‘How terrible, how terrible for the great city! She made us all rich from her great wealth. And now in a single hour it is all gone.’”

            As John continues recording this lament over the destruction of Babylon he writes about the merchants of the city who are mournful because of the loss of their businesses and the loss of what they say is such a great city, but it was more than a city to them, it was their life, and it was sinful because of all of the evil that this city represents.  

            Next the ship owners and crews onboard their ships begin their lament because there will be nowhere to take their cargo.  They stand at a distance and watch the smoke of the destroyed city climb into the air, knowing that it is completely destroyed.

            From the great to the small they all lament over the destruction of this city which represents a type of religion to them which is actually an idol, something to replace the God of heaven who created and own all that is on planet earth, and they will not recognize this truth, and will thus perish along with their idol. 

            Spiritual meaning for my life today:  This entire section of Revelation has shown me, through the teaching of the Holy Spirit, which I am to hold onto the things that are real and meaningful in this life that God has given me and to whom I owe everything too.  It has also shown me that it is really easy if I am not careful to fall into the trap of having things own me, and having things become an idol to me that will replace my worship and adoration of the Lord.  The things that John is describing in these verses is a system, and it is a system that is anti-God, and it is a system which demands worship, so therefore it is an evil and corrupt system, which I as a believer must learn to stay away from if I want to be pleasing to the Lord.  It is not so much a matter of how many things that the Lord has entrusted me with on my stay on planet earth that matter, as long as those things that God has entrusted me with do not become my life, which is the reason why these people described in these verses are lamenting.  God’s Word allows me to see things in the correct perspective, and brings meaningfulness to my life.

The Word of God has brought conviction to my heart as I read and studied it this morning.

My Steps of Faith Today:  That the Holy Spirit of God will continue to weed out the sinfulness in my life, and teach me and enable me to get the proper perspective on “things” as He leads me through this trial that I am in.