November 25, 2014

IN THE WORLD, BUT NOT OF IT

Revelation 18:1–10

Kristie Ward
Tuesday's Devo

November 25, 2014

Tuesday's Devo

November 25, 2014

Central Truth

For believers who follow Christ, God calls us to come out of this world and separate ourselves. He wants us to live our lives in such a way that those around us see something different.

Key Verse | Revelation 18:4

Then I heard another voice from heaven saying,
"Come out of her, my people,
lest you take part in her sins,
lest you share in her plagues."
(Revelation 18:4)

Revelation 18:1–10

The Fall of Babylon

After this I saw another angel coming down from heaven, having great authority, and the earth was made bright with his glory. And he called out with a mighty voice,

“Fallen, fallen is Babylon the great!
    She has become a dwelling place for demons,
a haunt for every unclean spirit,
    a haunt for every unclean bird,
    a haunt for every unclean and detestable beast.
For all nations have drunk 1 18:3 Some manuscripts fallen by
    the wine of the passion of her sexual immorality,
and the kings of the earth have committed immorality with her,
    and the merchants of the earth have grown rich from the power of her luxurious living.”

Then I heard another voice from heaven saying,

“Come out of her, my people,
    lest you take part in her sins,
lest you share in her plagues;
for her sins are heaped high as heaven,
    and God has remembered her iniquities.
Pay her back as she herself has paid back others,
    and repay her double for her deeds;
    mix a double portion for her in the cup she mixed.
As she glorified herself and lived in luxury,
    so give her a like measure of torment and mourning,
since in her heart she says,
    ‘I sit as a queen,
I am no widow,
    and mourning I shall never see.’
For this reason her plagues will come in a single day,
    death and mourning and famine,
and she will be burned up with fire;
    for mighty is the Lord God who has judged her.”

And the kings of the earth, who committed sexual immorality and lived in luxury with her, will weep and wail over her when they see the smoke of her burning. 10 They will stand far off, in fear of her torment, and say,

“Alas! Alas! You great city,
    you mighty city, Babylon!
For in a single hour your judgment has come.”

Footnotes

[1] 18:3 Some manuscripts fallen by

Dive Deeper | Revelation 18:1–10

Okay, if you asked those close to me about my personality, they would say that I'm a pretty positive person. I see the glass as half full. I chuckled as I read my devotional passage because my first thought was "doom and gloom." This passage describes a movie I would not go see. It talks about the fall of Babylon, possibly a metaphor for Rome. Rome has fallen because of her adulterous ways, and the merchants have grown wealthy from her desire for luxury (verse 3). Rome is in trouble -- she has forsaken God, set up idols, and called men into spiritual adultery.

As I read about Rome and her power and excessive luxury, it made me stop and think about our country. Similar words could be said about America. But then comes verse 4 -- Hallelujah! The people are called to come out of the city. We have a warning from an angel! "Come out of her, my people, lest you take part in her sins, lest you share in her plagues." This reminds me that we should be in the world, but not of it.

As believers in Christ, we are called to separate ourselves from the things in this world. Romans 12:2 says, "Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect." People around us -- at the store, at our jobs, at the restaurant -- should see that something is different about us. They should know that something separates us from the world. When they see this and ask about it, I hope that you and I will take the time to come out of this world and live for the eternal world by sharing with them God's truth.

Revelation 18:20b (GNB) says, "Be glad, God's people and the apostles and prophets! For God has condemned her for what she did to you!" I like this ending to the movie. I might just go see it after all!

Discussion Questions

1. As you "come out" of the world, what are some of the things in this world that you need to leave behind?

2. When is the last time someone noticed, because of your actions or words, that you were different from the world?

3. What are you currently doing to renew your mind so that you do not become conformed to this world?