“And they threw dust on their heads and were crying out, weeping and mourning, saying, ‘Woe, woe, the great city, in which all who had ships at sea became rich from her prosperity, for in one hour she has been laid waste!’” (Revelation 18:19)

The wealth of this world is temporary.  From the fiat money to the things which wear out, nothing will last.  Wealth in this age is an illusion.  Come to the place where true wealth is given freely.  Well, maybe not entirely free, for you must submit yourself and work hard to take it all in, but it is yours for the asking.  Run with the world and leave it with nothing or walk with the Lord and leave prepared for eternity.

Lord, I can see this clearly.  I’ve been to enough funerals, and I can see it.  But I am in a trap and run the worldly race anyway.  Help me, Lord, to understand, take it in, and live according to Your goodness and mercy.  You have the words of eternal life and we both know what sin has done to my soul.  You know better than I.  Let my life not be laid waste but uplifted in You so that I live according to Your will.

Lord Jesus, in all areas of my life, I need Your salvation.  You alone can wash away my sins.  To the core of my being, it needs to be washed away.  Guide me Lord in the way You know I need to go.  According to the Father’s will, Holy Spirit, conform me to Christ.  I am a child of God in the making, not a wealthy-of-this-world person of my own making.  Lead me as I need to be led and keep my eyes upon You.  Amen.

“And every shipmaster and every passenger and sailor, and all who make their living by the sea, stood at a distance, and were crying out as they saw the smoke of her burning, saying, ‘What city is like the great city?’” (Revelation 18:17b-18)

I’ve sailed on a cruise and enjoyed it, but I often wonder if this verse does not specifically address, in part, the attitude of cruising.  During the pandemic, cruise ships were sitting idle and the money to run them was burning up at the dock.  Many lamented at not being able to continue living a carefree life.  The city is the symbol of those who think in these terms and do not think about the things of the Lord.

Lord, You have created us for Your purpose.  What makes us feel good only satisfies for a moment, so this cannot be the satisfaction itself.  There is something else that calls us forward.  Help me to see You, for I believe You are the something else for which we were created.  Lead me up and out of the vain pursuits of this life.  Its baubles and beads are pretty for a moment, but they distract.  Guide me into Your goodness and keep me there.

Lord Jesus, You came into this world with nothing and left the same way.  Or is that an illusion.  All authority and power are Yours and You came with the call to those who would believe to follow You.  One by one, and one day all, the faithful will stand before You and receive the inheritance of eternal life.  Lead me, Lord, so that I may be counted among the faithful.  Guide me in this life to live whole-heartedly for You.  Amen.

“[S]aying, ‘Woe, woe, the great city, she who was clothed in fine linen and purple and scarlet, and adorned with gold, precious stones, and pearls; for in one hour such great wealth has been laid waste!’” (Revelation 18:16-17a)

People love to be indulgent.  “You deserve this!”  In our sinful hearts, we believe we are special.  Of course, if everyone was special, we would not be special.  You must think to see that for what it is.  Why do you lament over baubles and beads?  The natives gave Manhattan up for baubles and beads because they did not think about ownership as we do.  Perhaps they had a better way of thinking.  They were willing to share.  We think of things as really belonging to us. But the reality is that all things belong to You.

Lord, when I die, everything I have accumulated will go to others, for we can take nothing with us  Pretty bangles and beads are nice to look at, but most of them do not have a functional use.  Lord, help me to see through the tantalizing ways of this world which distract me from the call You have given me to be Your child.  Help me to take up the cross You have given me that I may follow where You lead.

Lord Jesus, all things necessary having been done by You, my salvation is easy and the load is light.  In terms of the old Adam wrestling in the old way, the way is hard and the load is heavy.  Free my mind from the trap of this world’s temptation to cling to things and not You.  You are the source of life.  Guide me and prepare me to live life eternal.  In You alone is there hope and a future.  Keep me in and with You, Lord Jesus.  Amen.

“The merchants of these things, who became rich from her, will stand at a distance because of the fear of her torment, weeping and mourning” (Revelation 18:15)

Evil does evil without thinking about it until it is confronted.  Profiteers take as much as they can get without thinking about whom they hurt along the way.  How many are riding the cruise ship on the broad sea to hell because they are not thinking about anything but their pleasure?  How sad that so many who can think, do not.  Torment, weeping, and mourning is the result of unthinking, uncaring actions.

After World War II, many guilty perpetrators said, “I was just following orders.”  We go our own way instead of the right way .  Lord, You have created us with minds that can think and reason.  You have offered us, by grace through faith, the ability to come to You and be conformed to the image of Christ.  I can live life my own way or come to You and learn how to be Your child.

Lord Jesus, I do need to be saved.  Many days I go about my business without thinking about what it means to be a person of faith.  I do not pray, nor read Your word, but merely accept that You have saved me.  But I still need saving because I do not think and put into action those things You have given me to do.  Lead me out of this pit, Lord, and teach me again how to follow You.  Amen.

“The fruit you long for has left you, and all things that were luxurious and splendid have passed away from you and people will no longer find them” (Revelation 18:14).

We are sold on the idea of the emperor’s new clothes.  There is really nothing there and one day we will discover that there never has been anything there.  People of this age quickly move from one trivial thing to another.  They are led by nothing and into nothing.  Such is the state of the rebellion in this age.  God, who has given us everything, is treated as if He were nothing.  And too many are okay with this state of affairs.

Lord, You know these things better than I ever will.  Help me to see that the reality of love and life that You offer is dismissed with what I think are pleasures, but they are really nothing.  I trade eternity for a moment.  I give up my blessing for a bowl of nothing like Esau.  Lead me the other way round Lord so that I go the way of the righteous.  Guide me on the narrow path to value what is valuable.

Savior of all who believe, lead me away from the fleeting pleasures of this world to focus upon what is right and good.  Help me now and always to lift my eyes, look to You and see where my help comes from.  The hindrances are of this world and my help is from You.  Guide me today in Your way of righteousness so that I may humbly walk with You, my Lord and Savior.  Thank You for grace, Lord Jesus.  Amen.

“[C]argo of gold, silver, precious stones, and pearls; fine linen, purple, silk, and scarlet; every kind of citron wood, every article of ivory, and every article made from very valuable wood, bronze, iron, and marble; cinnamon, spice, incense, perfume, frankincense, wine, olive oil, fine flour, wheat, cattle, sheep, and cargo of horses, carriages, slaves, and human lives” (Revelation 18:12-13).

From Wall Street to Walmart, and especially during the holiday seasons, it becomes a mad rush to buy things.  We may not need them, or even want them, but they are purchased.  Mounds of expectations satisfy the advertisements that tell us we need these things.  Do we listen to the Word of the Lord as we listen to all the hype?  Are we as fervent for the Lord as we are for our  desires for things?

Lord, what a crazy world this has become.  We go shopping and it looks like one giant ant hill.  Why do I get so caught up in the insanity?  Why do I not shed myself from these things and simply live for You.  Save me Lord from this mess, too.  Everywhere I turn, I see the need for salvation.  Guide me in Your goodness to live according to Your grace and mercy.

Lord Jesus, through the Holy Spirit, minister to my heart so that I would live simply and accept that You alone are the source of all things.  All the jewels and precious stones are Your creation.  The gold and silver are Yours also.  Help me to look to You, the source of all that is precious and beautiful, to live as You have created me to live.  Guide me this day through the mess of this world.  Amen.

Lord Jesus, through the Holy Spirit, minister to my heart so that I would live simply and accept that You alone are the source of all things.  All the jewels and precious stones are Your creation.  The gold and silver are Yours also.  Help me to look to You, the source of all that is precious and beautiful, to live as You have created me to live.  Guide me this day through the mess of this world.  Amen.

“And the merchants of the earth weep and mourn over her, because no one buys their cargo anymore” (Revelation 18:11)

How much of our money, time, and effort do we waste on things that do not really matter?  The stores have shelves filled with things upon things.  Once two or three sets of clothes were enough.  Now we have too many to choose from.  One day the Lord will say “enough”.  Prudence will return and no one will buy all the junk that is being produced.  Why not start now?

Lord, what is prudent?  I do not know.  How much do I really need?  How much is enough?   Your grace is sufficient, but what does that mean?  Help me, dear Lord, to gain wisdom and have a clear mind about what I do and do not need.  Guide me away from this consumerism that has the whole world reaching for their wallet.  Lead me to spend my time, effort, and money on things that will make a difference. Grant me contentment with what I have.

Lord Jesus, You did not spend Your time the way the world spends its time.  Even in Your day, which was not as frantic with consuming as now, You went from place to place and engaged with people.  Lead me, Lord, to follow Your example and engage with people.  As I walk this life of faith, grant me a clearer mind, eyes that see, and a willingness to set godly priorities.  Amen.

“And the kings of the earth, who committed acts of sexual immorality and lived luxuriously with her, will weep and mourn over her when they see the smoke of her burning, standing at a distance because of the fear of her torment, saying, ‘Woe, woe, the great city, Babylon, the strong city! For in one hour your judgment has come’” (Revelation 18:9-10).

How the mighty weep when their days of luxury are over.  Some of the mighty also end up in nursing homes, forgotten and unattended.  It is not that winding up in a nursing home is bad, but that the delusional do not think they are like the rest of us.  For those who have lived in a delusion, reality is painful.  Those who have lived immorally will also receive judgement against all wickedness.

Lord, the judgement is built into reality.  Those who live by grace may not like their situation, but they will still praise You.  Those who hate You and practice wickedness will become even more bitter as the delusion of this age is replaced with the reality that judgement brings.  No matter our circumstances, we are called to praise and honor You.  Affliction lasts only for a time, but to be with You in eternity is true joy.

Lord, help my unbelief.  When difficulty comes, I am tempted to cry out in aguish and ask, “Why me.”  Why not me?  Lord, You have allowed all that will come to pass to unfold with a promise to those who believe that it all has good purpose.  Lead me by faith to hold fast to Your promises and to live through whatever tests this life may bring.  Guide me, Lord, in the way of true living.  Amen.

Lord, help my unbelief.  When difficulty comes, I am tempted to cry out in aguish and ask, “Why me.”  Why not me?  Lord, You have allowed all that will come to pass to unfold with a promise to those who believe that it all has good purpose.  Lead me by faith to hold fast to Your promises and to live through whatever tests this life may bring.  Guide me, Lord, in the way of true living.  Amen.

“For this reason in one day her plagues will come, plague and mourning and famine, and she will be burned up with fire; for the Lord God who judges her is strong” (Revelation 18:8).

That which you do not expect nor desire shall come.  Your sinful desires will no longer be satisfied.  You will weep and not be so positive anymore.  The delusions will be shattered and the illusion of happiness shall fall down before the reality of wickedness in this world.  It is not that we should always be sad, nor lack any happiness, but the mantra of positive thinking is a poison.

Lord, take away from me the poison of delusional thinking that is going on in society.  Let me be one who sees clearly.  Allow me to live in the freedom You give so that I may abide wholly in You.  When I am tempted to not see things as they are, help me graciously to walk away from what is false to live what is true.  Guide me in Your goodness Lord to walk always with You.

Thank You, Jesus, for speaking the words of truth.  Guide me in truth so that I may humbly walk with You into eternity.  Teach me the obedience You desire.  Lead me to walk one step at a time, speaking truth.  Do not let me cover up mourning with laughter, nor shrug off famine with indifference.  Let me live the life You have given me the way You would have me live it.  Amen.

“To the extent that she glorified herself and lived luxuriously, to the same extent give her torment and mourning; for she says in her heart, ‘I sit as a queen and I am not a widow, and will never see mourning’” (Revelation 18:7).

Sit, glorifying yourself, living luxuriously, and only accepting positive thoughts.  That sums up many people in this age.  Living an illusion, they are alone, but think themselves leaders of the world.  It is a delusion.  But the Lord has come to shine His light so that you can see and not live as one who is blind.  You are who you are, and the Lord is who He is, and you are not Him.

Lord, reality is much easier to live out than the delusion of thinking more of myself than I ought.  Lead me into continued right thinking and help me avoid all the wicked nonsense that tempts me to stray from You.  You are the One who created all things and only in You is there life and liberty.  Throughout the pains of this age, lead me to see with clarity Your upward call of grace and mercy.

Thank You, Lord Jesus, for helping us to stand firm amidst a delusional age.  We have become steeped in the wine of lies that makes us drunk on things that are not true.  You have spoken the truth and set me free.  Lead me to live in the freedom You give so that I may now and always abide in Your salvation.  Guide me to know that in You alone is hope and an eternal future.  Amen.