How Rich is My Condition

Monday, November 28, 2011, 1:34 a.m. – I woke with the hymn, “Jesus, I My Cross Have Taken,” playing in my mind. Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening. I read Isaiah 21:1-10:

A Prophecy Against Babylon

An oracle concerning the Desert by the Sea:
Like whirlwinds sweeping through the southland,
an invader comes from the desert,
from a land of terror.

A dire vision has been shown to me:
The traitor betrays, the looter takes loot.
Elam, attack! Media, lay siege!
I will bring to an end all the groaning she caused.

At this my body is racked with pain,
pangs seize me, like those of a woman in labor;
I am staggered by what I hear,
I am bewildered by what I see.
My heart falters,
fear makes me tremble;
the twilight I longed for
has become a horror to me.

They set the tables,
they spread the rugs,
they eat, they drink!
Get up, you officers,
oil the shields!

This is what the Lord says to me:

“Go, post a lookout
and have him report what he sees.
When he sees chariots
with teams of horses,
riders on donkeys
or riders on camels,
let him be alert,
fully alert.”

And the lookout shouted,

“Day after day, my lord, I stand on the watchtower;
every night I stay at my post.
Look, here comes a man in a chariot
with a team of horses.
And he gives back the answer:
‘Babylon has fallen, has fallen!
All the images of its gods
lie shattered on the ground!’”

O my people, crushed on the threshing floor,
I tell you what I have heard
from the LORD Almighty,
from the God of Israel.

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My Understanding: The book of Revelation tells us about a time that will come when the dragon (Satan), the beast and the false prophet will rule the earth for a time, times and half a time. They will invade lands not theirs, and will pillage, loot, overthrow, kill and destroy. The beast, as well, will be given authority to take captives, and to persecute and kill the saints of Almighty God – true believers and followers of Jesus Christ. I believe this day is soon upon us, though I don’t when. Yet, I do believe God is preparing our hearts.

Isaiah was shown a dire vision of a traitor betraying, and looters taking loot. At the giving of this vision, Isaiah’s body was racked with pain, pangs seized him, like those of a woman in labor. His heart faltered. Fear made him tremble. He had a vision of an invader approaching Babylon. There were many Jews in Babylon. They could die in the invasion. Oftentimes when visions are given, they are given for the purpose of the recipient feeling in his own mind and body the anguish and suffering of others so he or she can pray, warn and/or encourage, or else it is to give the recipient a glimpse into the mind and heart of Almighty God to see what he sees and to feel what he feels. So, it is not unusual that Isaiah would identify with his own people in what they were about to suffer.

The book of Revelation gives a similar picture of a dire situation to come upon the earth – a time of a great deception – a time in which brother will betray brother to death. So, although the invader may come from a distant land, a traitor has first of all betrayed his own people and has handed them over to the invader. When this time comes upon us, we must know and understand that it may come by the hands of those we know and love who have handed us over to our enemies just as Judas betrayed Jesus and handed him over to be killed on a cross. To me, this would cause great anguish of heart and mind to know that those whom we love and trusted betrayed that trust and gave us over to the enemy. Yet, we know the Bible says this day is coming when men’s hearts will grow cold and they will turn on one another. Oh, the anguish of such a time!

The Lord has assigned watchmen all throughout history to be on the lookout for the dangers that lie ahead for his people and to give warning and to call on the people of God to repent, to forsake their idols, to pray, to seek God’s face, and to return to their first love. Yet, all of us are to watch and pray as we wait for the day of our Lord’s soon return. The day of the Lord’s coming should not overtake us like a thief in the night, because we should be watching and we should be spiritually prepared for when he comes to receive his bride.

The book of Revelation speaks of the Fall of Babylon, too. There are many interpretations of who this Babylon is in these last days. I have often had a picture of the USA (or the US government) in this role and/or the institutional church in the USA which has married itself to the US government, yet what we do know for sure is that Babylon is always a picture of worldliness and of something that works against God and is also against God’s people, the true saints of Almighty God. Yet, there are believers in Jesus Christ who live in this Babylon. We can come out from the world and be separate, but we still live in the world, and so when God brings judgment, we will suffer along with those who are being judged, or else we may be the intended recipients of that judgment, too, if we have not truly come out of Babylon and have separated ourselves from worldly living. Yet, we know, too, that when this invader comes, he will persecute and kill the saints of God.

Isaiah stated this: “O my people, crushed on the threshing floor, I tell you what I have heard from the LORD Almighty, from the God of Israel.” Isaiah had been given that vision for a reason, and it was to share with the people to prepare their hearts. And, John was given a vision of the events to unfold in these last days before the return of Christ to prepare our hearts, as well, and to call for repentance of those still walking in darkness, but also to encourage the saints of Almighty God to remain faithful to their Lord Jesus Christ even in the face of betrayal at the hands of those in whom they had placed their trust.

The Lord woke me this morning with the words to this hymn (below) going through my mind. I know of no other song written that expresses the sentiments of what Isaiah wrote and what John wrote like this does. The words had fresh and deep meaning to me this morning as I contemplated the reality of them in my heart and mind in relation to what is soon to come upon us, I believe. Though it is painful to think of a time such as this when there will be great destruction and loss of human life, I think the greatest pain of all is to feel the pain of betrayal at the hands of those you love and in whom you have trusted. That is why the Bible tells us over and over again not to place our trust in man, but to place our trust in Almighty God – Father, Son (Jesus Christ) and Holy Spirit.

As we see the Day fast approaching, this should be the attitude of each one of us:

Jesus, I My Cross Have Taken / Henry F. Lyte / Mozart/ Arr. Hubert P. Main

Jesus, I my cross have taken, all to leave and follow Thee;
Destitute, despised, forsaken, Thou, from hence, my all shalt be.
Perish every fond ambition, all I've sought, and hoped, and known;
Yet how rich is my condition, God and Christ are still my own!

Let the world despise and leave me, they have left my Savior, too;
Human hearts and looks deceive me; Thou art not, like man, untrue;
And, while Thou shalt smile upon me, God of wisdom, love, and might,
Foes may hate, and friends disown me; show Thy face, and all is bright.

Man may trouble and distress me – ‘Twill but drive me to Thy breast.
Life with trials hard may press me; Heaven will bring me sweeter rest.
Oh, ‘tis not in grief to harm me, while Thy love is left to me;
Oh, ‘twere not in joy to charm me, were that joy unmixed with Thee.

Go then, earthly fame and treasure! Come, disaster, scorn, and pain!
In Thy service pain is pleasure; with Thy favor loss is gain.
I have called Thee, Abba, Father, I have stayed my heart on Thee;
Storms may howl and clouds may gather; all must work for good to me.

Haste then on from grace to glory, armed by faith and winged by prayer;
God's eternal day's before thee, God's own hand shall guide thee there.
Soon shall close thy earthly mission, swift shall pass thy pilgrim days,
Hope shall change to glad fruition, faith to sight, and prayer to praise.