“The sum of Your word is truth, and every one of Your righteous ordinances is everlasting” (Ps.119:160).
Do we truly believe that God’s Word recorded for us in the Bible is truth? We may say or even think that we believe but our actions sometimes show the opposite. This is what Jeremiah prophesied to the people of Zedekiah, king of Judah: “Thus says the LORD: ‘He who remains in this city shall die by the sword, by famine, and by pestilence; but he who goes over to the Chaldeans shall live; his life shall be as a prize to him, and he shall live.’ Thus says the LORD: ‘This city shall surely be given into the hand of the king of Babylon’s army, which shall take it.” (Jer.38:2-3).
Speaking the truth of God’s word resulted in Jeremiah being thrown into to a cistern to die. However, the treatment he received did not change the outcome for the king and his people.
“And the Chaldeans burned the king’s house and the houses of the people with fire, and broke down the walls of Jerusalem. Then Nebuzaradan the captain of the guard carried away captive to Babylon the remnant of the people who remained in the city.” (Jer.39:8-9).
The Bible tells us: “Surely the Lord GOD does nothing, unless He reveals His secret to His servants the prophets.” (Amos 3:7)
Again the prophets are warning – this time to flee FROM Babylon:
- “Go forth from Babylon! Flee from the Chaldeans! Declare with the sound of joyful shouting, proclaim this, send it out to the end of the earth; Say, “The Lord has redeemed His servant Jacob.” (Isa.48:20)
- “Flee from the midst of Babylon, and each of you save his life! Do not be destroyed in her punishment, for this is the Lord’s time of vengeance; He is going to render recompense to her.” (Jer.51:6)
These warnings of old are echoed today by God’s prophets instructing people to flee from Babylon, which is symbolic of places where people live in rebellion to God. The book of Revelation tells us about the evils of Babylon and the call for people to come out of her:
“Babylon is fallen—that great city is fallen! She has become a home for demons. She is a hideout for every foul spirit, a hideout for every foul vulture and every foul and dreadful animal. For all the nations have fallen because of the wine of her passionate immorality. The kings of the world have committed adultery with her. Because of her desires for extravagant luxury, the merchants of the world have grown rich.” Then I heard another voice calling from heaven, “COME AWAY FROM HER, MY PEOPLE. Do not take part in her sins, or you will be punished with her. For her sins are piled as high as heaven, and God remembers her evil deeds.” (Rev.18:2-5)
The challenge today to all of us is – what are we going to do with this warning coming to us from the Word of God? Are we going to kill the prophets or are we going to heed the warning?
We serve a holy God who punishes sin. That has been shown in Noah’s flood and the destruction of Sodom and Gamorra. The destruction of Babylon is foretold in the Word.
“Therefore, these plagues will overtake her in a single day— death and mourning and famine. She will be completely consumed by fire, for the Lord God who judges her is mighty.” (Rev.18:8).
The instruction to all of us today is to remove ourselves from places infested with rebellion and sin as these places will be punished. If we believe God’s word is true, then we have to respond by separating ourselves from sin and fleeing from Babylon.
My Prayer
Father AhaYah, thank you that through Your love You warn us of danger to come. Father, we believe, please help us our unbelief. Please give us the courage to act according to Your warning. Please instruct us about where we need to position ourselves to escape from the plagues of famine, death and fire that is coming onto the world. We pray in the mighty name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, our Saviour and Redeemer. Aman.