"And he hath power to give" (Rev. 13:15)
Ron Sisco is the one that mentioned this: the beast can so often be seen as the one who is richer; able to give, whereas we need to be willing to sacrifice for God and suffer the loss of all things for Him. Well, I suppose it does make sense, to serve a master that benefits, that will give you only profit; but if, when it seems disciples are willing to trade all things, and it seems like they're willing to DIE and LOSE REPUTATION, PROMOTION, COMFORT, DREAMS, RELATIONSHIP, MATERIAL PROPERTY for HIM...that simply points to the Lord's WORTHINESS!
"Lord, to whom shall we go? Thou hast the words of everlasting life." (Jn. 6:68)
Exposed, Unkempt Roots
"give...life
unto the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak, and cause that as many as would not worship the beast should be killed." (Rev. 13:15)
That is man. "I will guarantee a method of profit," says the scammer, then exacts great losses of victims. Televangelists offer freedom while enslaving disciples. Be a top athlete in history, a trainer challenges a budding youth, enlisting him in strict regimen. Latter years find him, discarded and forgotten by society, needy in meaningful relationships and broken in body. Human offers of "best" often end in "empty".
Wasn't it Jim Eliot who once said, "He is no fool who gives up that which he cannot keep in order to gain that which he cannot lose"?
Those who claim to offer life in shining images of logos in shining several-hundred-storied building corporations boasting salaries in the six figures; others who claim worthy causes for millions of needs; in the end will be terminating any who do not go along with their agenda.
