Babylon Will Not Have The Last Word
Bright headlines fade, Jesus remains, Babylon will not have the last word.
Devotional Credit: Immeasurably More by Ray Stedman
Photo Credit: Unsplash
Ray Stedman walks us through Jeremiah 50 and 51, where God declares the fall of Babylon. He explains that Babylon is more than an ancient city. Throughout Scripture it becomes a picture of organized opposition to God, especially where religious power is used to gain fame, status, and control. Stedman helps us see that whenever human pride builds towers to reach the heavens, the Lord brings those towers down. I am grateful for Stedman’s steady voice here, pointing us away from fear and back to the simple confidence that Jesus overcomes the world.
He reminds us where it began. At Babel, people gathered to make a name for themselves. That impulse never died. It still surfaces in systems that crave approval and power, dressed up in religious language. Stedman is not attacking people. He is exposing a spirit that seduces hearts. Babylon is the world, the flesh, and the devil braided together, promising life while draining it away.
God will not let that story stand. As surely as the Medes and Persians once toppled Babylon, the Lord has pledged to bring down every counterfeit that rivals His Son. Revelation takes the language of Jeremiah and shows the final outcome. Mystery Babylon collapses, and the Lamb reigns. The point for us is not to speculate about maps and timelines, but to abide in Jesus who already disarmed rulers and authorities.
Stedman’s pastoral nudge is simple. Do not be impressed by glitter or frightened by headlines. The idols of status and control cannot hold those who are united with Christ. Wherever the Lord has planted us, our life is hidden with Jesus in God. So we carry ourselves with quiet confidence. Babylon will sink. The people who rest in the Lord will stand.
Journal Entry: Voice of the Holy Spirit Through Scripture
Beloved, I have delivered you from the domain of darkness and transferred you into the kingdom of My beloved Son. You are not at the mercy of Babylon. In Jesus you are seated with Me, far above every claim that pride or fear makes over your heart. When the world shouts its demands, remember that the cross has stripped those powers of their final weapon.
You do not fight for victory, you stand in victory. I teach your hands to wage a different kind of warfare, not with the weapons of the flesh, but with the mighty power of God that pulls down strongholds. You belong to Me, therefore resist the devil and he will flee. Set your mind on the things above. Let the peace of Jesus rule in your heart.
When you notice the lure of reputation or the pressure to perform, yield the moment to Me. You died with Christ and you now live in Him. I am faithful to guard you. I will make you strong, firm, and steadfast. You are more than a conqueror through Him who loves you. Walk in the light. Worship in Spirit and in truth. My grace is sufficient for every step.
Scripture References: Jeremiah 50:1-2; Jeremiah 51:6-10; Genesis 11:1-9; Revelation 17:1-6; Revelation 18:2-4; Colossians 1:13-14; Colossians 2:14-15; Colossians 3:1-4; Ephesians 2:4-7; John 16:33; 1 John 2:15-17; Romans 6:6-11; Galatians 2:20; 2 Corinthians 10:3-5; James 4:7; 1 Peter 5:8-10; Ephesians 6:10-18; Romans 8:31-39; John 4:23-24.
Real-Life Analogy
Think about the spam filter on your phone. All day long it watches for numbers that mimic the real thing. Some calls sound urgent. Some promise rewards. The filter tags them and sends them to silence. The calls still exist, but they no longer direct your attention, and you are free to answer the voice that matters. Babylon is like those spam calls. It pretends to speak with authority, yet it is counterfeit.
When pressure shows up at work or online, when image and applause try to run the conversation, pause and breathe slowly. Then say, Lord, I trust You to live Your life in me and through me right now, and I receive Your wisdom to answer only Your call. Maybe that means declining a flattering invitation that pulls you from family, or posting with humility instead of chasing likes. Let the Spirit set the filter, and enjoy the quiet that follows.
Prayer of Confidence
Lord, thank You that in Jesus I am already delivered from the grip of Babylon. You have united me with Your Son, You have given me His victory, and You have filled me with Your Spirit. I rejoice that the idols of power and status have no claim on me. I gladly yield this day to You, trusting You to express Your life through me in every choice, every word, and every hidden motive.