Is Anyone Really Saved?

Then the angel who was talking with me came forward and said, “Look up and see what’s coming.” “What is it?” I asked. He replied, “It is a basket for measuring grain, and it’s filled with the sins of everyone throughout the land.” Then the heavy lead cover was lifted off the basket, and there was a woman sitting inside it. The angel said, “The woman’s name is Wickedness,” and he pushed her back into the basket and closed the heavy lid again. Then I looked up and saw two women flying toward us, gliding on the wind. They had wings like a stork, and they picked up the basket and flew into the sky. “Where are they taking the basket?” I asked the angel. He replied, “To the land of Babylonia, where they will build a temple for the basket. And when the temple is ready, they will set the basket there on its pedestal.” [Zechariah 5.5-11] 

A basket for measuring grain is doubtless a symbol of commerce. The woman named Wickedness is obviously symbolizing the use of sex to promote commerce. The temple built for the basket symbolizes the worship of commerce. The basket is filled with the sins of everyone throughout the land - the way of commerce and its inherent sin is the way of man.

What could better identify our situation today? We don't need to "Look up and see what’s coming" because it is already here!

It sure seems like commerce has become all-important today. It seems that commerce has been given 'religious worship' status. It seems that commerce, the way of man, has sadly become central to the institutional church as much as in all the world - finance, insurance, medicine and technology.

Hmm.

Jesus said:

If any of you wants to be my follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross, and follow me. [Matthew 16.24]

Jesus said:

Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need. [Matthew 6.33] 

If commerce is the way of man to provide himself everything he needs, we don't really need better explanation of the Bible. We need to live it.

If being a follower of Jesus is what the Kingdom of God is all about, then we should understand that we are given clear direction to give up our own way, take up our cross, and everything we need will be provided as we follow Jesus. 

But no one really believes that today, do they? Is anyone really saved then? (Just asking for a friend...)

Father, may our eyes be opened to the truth of Your Word about how we don't have commerce, but commerce has us. May it enter our understanding that "commerce" represents all the idolatry (sin) of man in one word. May Your true followers be found giving up their own way, taking up their cross, and following Jesus - in Your Kingdom provision of everything we need. So be it.