Daily Walk Through the New Testament
March 24
Read Revelation 18:11-24
At first glance, this passage seems like such a depressing passage to read. But there is an important message here for us. John was inspired by the Holy Spirit to write about the ultimate emptiness and shallowness of materialism. John went into considerable detail about the awe and beauty of Babylon and all that she created, and then it became clear it was ultimately all for nothing. It was burned up and lost in the end. There was no sustainable value in all her material prosperity.
Take a moment to think about the conversations that happen in our culture around Christmas. Think about the stories we hear about shoppers fighting over the most wanted toys and items on Black Friday. Even in Christian circles, we can give lip service to the idea that our celebration is about the birth of Christ, while in our heart of hearts, we give priority to the material possessions we will get or give at Christmas. Gift giving is not inherently evil. In fact, it can often be a great way to express love to those who are near and dear to us. But there is also an inherent risk with all things material. We can inadvertently treasure the gift over the Giver.
Perhaps this passage is meant to remind us that the material goods humanity generally treasures don’t hold eternal value. There is a day coming when it will all be tossed into the sea. We can be as those who weep at its passing, or we can take a more proactive approach and declare that our hope and treasures lie in the things we know and have in Christ.