During the Civil War one
of the most effective spies for the Confederacy was a woman with flowing locks
named Rose Greenhow. Historians point out that the information she provided the
Southern generals was pivotal. For example, just before the Battle of Bull Run
on July 9, 1861 she hid a message in her lovely curls. When she combed out her
hair for Rebel officers, they learned that Union troops were about to march on
Richmond.
As the war intensified, her
house became the heart of a Southern spy network, and at the height of her
activities Greenhow directed more than 50 agents. However, as the Confederacy
crumbled, Greenhow resorted to a fugitive lifestyle. With Union troops hot on
her heels, Ms. Greenhow devised a way to evade capture and the loss of her
fortune by sewing the gold she accrued into the seams of her dress.
(Rose Greenhow)
On Oct. 1, 1864 Greenhow was
aboard the British blockade-runner Condor when it was intercepted by the
U.S.S. Niphon off Cape Hatteras, North Carolina. The Yankee ship ran Condor
aground near Forth Fischer. Greenhow was carrying Confederate dispatches and
$2,000 in gold. Greenhow made it into a small lifeboat, but it overturned in the
rough surf. The weight of the gold sewed into her dress pulled her under, and
her body washed ashore the next morning.[i]
That story reminds us that
when we are possessed by our possessions, we go down with them! The tragedy of
Ms. Greenhow also provides a fitting analogy to the future events described in
Revelation 18. Here we read about God’s final destruction of Babylon—which will
be the capital city of the Antichrist’s world empire. The Bible says that in just
a few moments the decadence and debauchery of this city will be reduced to
rubble.
“8 For this reason her
plagues will come in a single day, death and mourning and famine,
and she will be burned
up with fire; for mighty is the Lord God who has judged her…” 10 They will
stand far off, in fear of her torment, and say, “Alas! Alas! You great city, you
mighty city, Babylon! For in a single hour your judgment has come.” (Rev. 18:8,
10).
In the Bible, Babylon is
not just a city, but it’s also system. Babylon represents man’s rebellion
against God—governmentally, economically, religiously. Man looks to material
wealth as his source of security for the future. However, the Bible says that
in the end-times these earthly riches will be their undoing (James 5:1-3). Ancient
Babylon was judged for its humanism, paganism and materialism and so will
future Babylon.
That is why we are
instructed as Christians not to assimilate into this worldly system (1 John
2:15-17). The angel who showed John this future judgment said, “Come out of
her, my people, lest you take part in her sins, lest you share in her plagues”
(Rev. 18:4). As Christians our hope is not in this world. We don’t look to the
government to solve our problems or the Stock Market to provide our security.
We don’t take our moral code from Hollywood or Social Media. Don’t sew the goods
of the world into your life, or else you’ll be dragged down when it is judged.
Like the old Spiritual
says, “This world is passing away and we are just passing through.” Let’s
remember this world is not our home. -DM
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