Has something ever had its grip on you and to get rid of it was like ripping teeth out? Alcohol. Drugs. Porn. Tobacco. Food. Job. Busyness. The list seems endless doesn’t it? These things, these addictions, these nuisances have such a grip on one’s life that it is hard to give them up. We call them addictions because they seem to grab us by the throat and won’t let go.
Revelation 18 pictures that for me. The whole “here is what it means” aside, a unique picture is given. First, I think it is only correct to say this is a continuation, a sequel and fulfillment of the story started in chapter 17 when it speaks about the doom of Babylon. I even mentioned that event in yesterday’s devotion. Babylon will fall…guaranteed. What Babylon is does not apply here. IT. WILL. FALL.
Chapter 18 is its fall. Verse 2 tells us the inevitability of that. The Lamb will overcome. The description of Babylon and its fall is vivid. All who commit sin with her will fall. He does call out His people so they will not be part of the judgment (verse 4).
Verse 8 says judgment is coming. Without question. The rest of the chapter describes that judgment which ends in complete obliteration.
A stronghold is defeated. We all have them. Jesus calls us to Himself and tells us “My grace is sufficient for You. My strength is made perfect in your weakness.” Living for the enemy is a losing cause. All will be burned up. Strongholds will be defeated. Babylon will fall.
“Father, may I relinquish to You all the strongholds of my life. Please give me victory of my “Babylon” as I watch those enemies fall.”
Yes, Abba, give me the strength to relinquish my strongholds. I want to totally surrender to You, The One Who Strongly Holds Me.
Jesus said, “Ask and it will be given.” your prayer will be answered I’m sure.
Amen, Bill! God can take our addictions and convince us to repent and let them go.
Blessings!
You used two key words Martha: Repent and let go.
So I may go a smidge off topic here… but I think it is relevant… and it does coincide with the strongholds we have built in our lives. As I was reading through Revelation 18 and your post… I found myself thinking about how much effort is applied to maintaining strongholds. It takes a lot of work to be honest. The secrets, the lies, the isolation, the fortification, protection… yes when we have strongholds, we are literally working to protect our ability to maintain a sin. We are working in conjunction with Satan to keep the light from shining in and on those things that we have built the strongholds to protect. We have purposely built walls and fortifications around those sins so we can keep doing them. TEAR DOWN THOSE WALLS!!! That is what I have to tell myself. Bottom line… If I don’t allow God to tear them down, they will come down eventually and when they do, they will be like Babylon in Revelation 18… A fire, a burning city, that all will see. Thanks for the your thoughts today Bill… as always, you keep me thinking, keep me moving forward.
That is a great thought Ryan about the amount of effort we use to maintain those strongholds. TEAR DOWN THOSE WALLS indeed! Glad I could challenge you this morning help in moving you forward.
I’m kind of reminded of the rich young ruler here. I definitely have some strongholds..Ok, many in fact. Just when I think I’ve torn down one.. another one pops up! Ugh!
He is a good example Ed. As for the strongholds, the enemy likes to do that to us.