And I heard another voice from heaven saying, “Come out of [Babylon], my people, lest you share in her sins, and lest you receive of her plagues.” Revelation 18:4
What is this Babylon of the Revelation? Some see it as a real city, the capital of the Antichrist’s new world order at the end of the age (the early church thought it was Rome). Others see Babylon as a symbol of sinful humanity and its capacity for self-delusion, pride, and depravity. This would include the systems of this world – government, education, entertainment, etc. – which war against the kingdom of God.
I am encouraged to ask a more important question: What is this Babylon to you?
What wars against the kingdom of God in your life?
The voice from God encourages us to come out of Babylon. The Holy Spirit draws us and stands by to guide us outside the camp to Jesus, to bear and share His reproach (Hebrews 13:13).
For here we have no continuing city, but we seek the one to come. Hebrews 13:14
This journey out of Babylon and into the city of God passes through a narrow gate and down a difficult road (Matthew 7:14). Jesus encourages us to strive to enter through the narrow gate, for many will seek to enter and will not be able (Luke 13:24).
As much as our carnal minds would like to convince us otherwise, we must at some point move from seeking to enter, to striving. Seeking and striving are not the same. The seeker-friendly church and its message may serve some purpose, but it alone will leave untold numbers standing at the gate, wondering if there is more or deceived and camped out, only to be surprised when the books are opened.
God has provided the means and methods for avoiding such a surprise. Psalm 37:5 holds the key.
Commit your way to the Lord,
Trust also in Him,
And He shall bring it to pass.
In other words, “Let go and let God.” There is no other god like our God, who acts for the one who waits on Him (Isaiah 64:4). The Father is working in us to will and to do to His good pleasure (Philippians 2:13), which is to give us His kingdom (Luke 12:32). Jesus has promised to make something divine of all who would follow Him (Mark 1:17). The Holy Spirit has committed to our transformation by the renewal of our minds (2Corinthians 3:18; Romans 12:2).
The key of Psalm 37:5 opens the gate and empowers us to begin our striving to die. That’s right, we must strive to die, that we may have life (Mark 8:35).
Consider the caterpillar, that ugly consuming creature, which must die in its cocoon for the butterfly to emerge. That little, ignorant bug chooses to die for a life beyond its imagination! Like the caterpillar, we (i.e., born-again believers) must take up our cross daily; we must deny ourselves and die.
The difficult road that leads to eternal life is a death march – for our flesh and its carnal mind.
God bless you with grace and courage for the narrow gate and difficult road – out of Babylon and into His eternal city.
Humbly yours and forever His,
Rob