From the archives of Oral Roberts – First of six parts
We frequently hear about polls in which the results reveal “the most livable cities” in our nation.
The Bible tells of two great cities in the ancient world: Jerusalem and Babylon. They existed in the same region of the earth; and yet were worlds apart.
Like a diamond on a velvet couch, the city of Jerusalem sits on the hills of Judaea in the geographical center of the earth. It is the City of God, the Great King. His prophets walked the streets here, thundering prophecies to call people back to God and to send His love to the ends of the earth. Here, God’s people gathered to build the great temple and to establish the worship of the true God in the earth.
Some 500 miles away, lay another city ― Babylon, the greatest city the pride and skill of man has ever built. Its walls were 300 feet high and so wide that in our day, eight cars could race side by side on top. At its center was the temple to the pagan god Bel, with 600-foot towering spires. The beautiful Euphrates River wound its way through Babylon. The Hanging Gardens―one of the seven wonders of the ancient world―had been built by the king for his vain and beautiful wife. Their palace was a huge fortress. Nebuchadnezzar and his armies had marched throughout the civilized earth, crushing nations and bringing leaders into captivity. Babylon was the seat of the world kingdom.
These two great cities stand in sharp contrast. One represents the house of God and His people today. The other represents the house of the devil and his crowd. Friend, you have a choice today about where you will dwell in the spirit realm.
Will you choose to live in the presence of God, where there is abundant provision for your life and where sin has no place? Surely that is the most livable dwelling place for all eternity!
Or will you choose to walk in darkness, where sin abounds and every good thing turns sour?
Jerusalem and Babylon…Where will you live?
I pray that your choice will be that of the psalmist: “One thing that I desired of the Lord, that will I seek after: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life” (Psalm 27:4).
