Indispensable

“See, I am against you, O arrogant one,” declares the Lord, the Lord Almighty, “for your day has come, the time for you to be punished. The arrogant one will stumble and fall and no one will help her up; I will kindle a fire in her towns that will consume all who are around her.” (Jeremiah 50:31–32, NIV 1984).

My Musings – The immediate context is ancient Babylon. But I suspect it might also apply to any nation that is characteristic of Babylon. A type of Babylon. Excess. Arrogance. Morally bankrupt.

I know a nation that once proclaimed, through its highest elected official, that it “is and remains the one indispensable nation.” That it had “been true for the century past and it [would] be true for the century to come.” Other high-ranking officials of this nation claim that “if we have to use force, it is because we are…the indispensable nation. We stand tall and we see further than other countries into the future, and we see the danger here to all of us. Only [we have] the power to guarantee global security: without our presence or support, multilateral endeavors would fail.”

What hubris. Excessive pride that almost begs for the fall. Like Babylon of lang ago? “God has numbered the days of your reign and brought it to an end. You have been weighed on the scales and found wanting. Your kingdom is divided and given to the Medes and Persians.” (Daniel 5:26–28, NIV 1984).

As you have likely guessed, I am talking about my country the United States of America. United, yet the “indivisible kingdom” is becoming increasingly divided. How ironic. Not by external forces like the Medes and Persians, but by its own leaders and even the citizens themselves. And we all know what happens in a kingdom that is divided against itself.

Now don’t get me wrong. I am a patriot. I love my country, more for what it used to be than what it is becoming, but I would grieve at its fall. But I have a higher citizenship. One that truly is indispensable. One that will last much longer than the century to come. We cannot see far enough into the future to see its fall, because it will last forever. Earthly kingdoms, rise, stumble and eventually fall. Or at least lose the prominence, power and prestige that it once had. Without earthly exception. But not His Kingdom.

My Advice -If you are not one of its citizens now you can be. Read my musings “The Born Again Experience.” It is the only indispensable thing you will ever do.