What are you trusting in?
“They threw dust on their heads and cried out, weeping and wailing, and saying, ‘Alas, alas, that great city, in which all who had ships on the sea became rich by her wealth! For in one hour, she is made desolate.’ Revelation 18:19
I don’t spend a lot of time looking at current events and the news around the world, but I do try to keep up with what is going on. Especially with countries that are at war like the Ukraine. This nation has suffered attacks from Russia for years and the destruction on that region is devastation. People have been driven from their homes and many cities and buildings now lay in ruins. However, if we are not looking at it on the news or internet in this part of the world, we barely even notice what is happening. Millions of people are suffering from the brute forces coming against them and we are pretty much oblivious.
It is sad really, that we don’t take a more proactive stance when we see countries around the world being wiped out. I am as guilty as the next person of thinking there is little we can do to help. But there is a big thing we can do and that is to pray. We can pray for God’s provision and salvation for those being oppressed and pushed from their homeland and we can pray for the peace of those regions. I know that it is scriptural that in the last days there will be wars and rumors of war, but that doesn’t mean that we just stand by and watch. These destructive forces coming against countries like the Ukraine and Israel are nothing more than demonic deceptions hardening the hearts of those who want to rule the world. Our prayers in this time are the very thing that will make an impact to change the circumstances in a positive way.
Today we are reading about the fall of the great city Babylon to come. The entire city falls in just one hour. It is hard to imagine such devastation that can flatten an entire city in just a 60 minute time period. People will stand and watch this catastrophic display from a distant. They will mourn and lament for the rich city that they love so much. All the riches in the world are not enough to save the great Babylon from the desolation that will come on it in that day. But this destruction will be for the apostles and prophets to rejoice over because they will be avenged at that time. All the resources and wealth that have been gathered to build and support Babylon the great will also be destroyed with it. There will be nothing salvageable at the end. The kings and merchants of the world trusted in the great wealth and riches of that city but at the end of that day, it will all be gone.
Today I want to encourage you not to put your trust in uncertain riches. Don’t depend on your things and possessions to comfort and support you through this life. Trust in God and hope in His provision and wisdom. Let His Spirit guide your steps each day. He will lead you to your place of purpose and fulfilment and if you lose some things, you will still have the security of His love and kindness to get you through to the next provision He has for you. I also want to encourage you to pray for nations today that are being attacked by enemy countries like Ukraine and Israel. Pray for resolution and the end of the aggression coming against them. Pray for the people to have hope and be brought to salvation through this trying time. Pray for aide and support to help them rebuild and reestablish their cities and that the attacking countries would pull back and take care of their own people. We cannot control all the crisis of the world, but we can lift them up to our Father in heaven and trust in Him to bring resolve.
Today’s scripture reading: Revelation 18:9-20
9 “The kings of the earth who committed fornication and lived luxuriously with her will weep and lament for her, when they see the smoke of her burning,
10 standing at a distance for fear of her torment, saying, ‘Alas, alas, that great city Babylon, that mighty city! For in one hour your judgment has come.’
11 “And the merchants of the earth will weep and mourn over her, for no one buys their merchandise anymore:
12 merchandise of gold and silver, precious stones and pearls, fine linen and purple, silk and scarlet, every kind of citron wood, every kind of object of ivory, every kind of object of most precious wood, bronze, iron, and marble;
13 and cinnamon and incense, fragrant oil and frankincense, wine and oil, fine flour and wheat, cattle and sheep, horses and chariots, and bodies and souls of men.
14 The fruit that your soul longed for has gone from you, and all the things which are rich and splendid have gone from you, and you shall find them no more at all.
15 The merchants of these things, who became rich by her, will stand at a distance for fear of her torment, weeping and wailing,
16 and saying, ‘Alas, alas, that great city that was clothed in fine linen, purple, and scarlet, and adorned with gold and precious stones and pearls!
17 For in one hour such great riches came to nothing.’ Every shipmaster, all who travel by ship, sailors, and as many as trade on the sea, stood at a distance
18 and cried out when they saw the smoke of her burning, saying, ‘What is like this great city?’
19 “They threw dust on their heads and cried out, weeping and wailing, and saying, ‘Alas, alas, that great city, in which all who had ships on the sea became rich by her wealth! For in one hour she is made desolate.’
20 “Rejoice over her, O heaven, and you holy apostles and prophets, for God has avenged you on her!”
The Daily Dose 