2003-10-23 - Avenged

Rev 18:6 "Pay her back even as she has paid, and give back to her double according to her deeds; in the cup which she has mixed, mix twice as much for her. (NAS)

For now Christians suffer at the hands of the world. Mankind looks for an answer to its collective frailty and needs. The martyrs underneath the alter of souls ask how long God will wait until He avenges their blood. We wonder how long God will wait to repay those who fight against Christianity: torturing and martyring missionaries, enticing the world into a leciveous lifestyle, claiming to have the answers to life while their own lives are pathetic empty shells. Many are called by the Lord, but few will come. And some who hear resist that call with a ferocity and rage that belies their own struggle within. If they could just crush this Christianity, then maybe they would have some peace.

But one day God's cup of wrath will be filled and will hold no more. This verse speaks of God's vengeance that will be poured out Babylon, the great harlot, who has tempted the world with her immoralities. Even the people of God must be called out of her (v.4) before God will exact his revenge two-fold for what she has done to His children.

Part of me does not look forward to this day. It will mean that the door of salvation is closing forever. Many will soon be left on the other side of that door not yet realizing their loss. They will have been so deluded as to weep over this Babylon that has so deceived them. They will mourn what they see as their loss, still not seeing the peace and acceptance they were seeking was available to them, but they would not have it on any terms but their own.

The door is still open and the call of salvation still goes out. There are men and women who are brought to the end of their own resources everyday. In that time many will finally lay aside their pride and ask for help. They are not just asking for food and clothing for themselves and their families. They are asking for peace in their hearts to the gnawing emptiness inside. We hold a treasure in our hearts that satisfies that empty soul mourning over the loss of a loved one, or financially crushed under debt losing house and home with no job. Christians should be their for even their persecutors in these moments. We are called to be lights. While the door is open we need to point the way to the open door. The day of vengeance will be more devastating and terrible than any of us can imagine.

2 Cor 4:7-10 But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the surpassing greatness of the power may be of God and not from ourselves; ⁸ we are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not despairing; ⁹ persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; ¹⁰ always carrying about in the body the dying of Jesus, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our body. (NAS)

Grace & Peace,
Mike

mhoskins@cfdevotionals.org
http://www.cfdevotionals.org