Resisting Babylon's Pull Today

2nd Sunday of Lent - March 1, 2026

Some years ago, musicians noted that errand boys…

…in a certain part of London all whistled out of tune as they went about their work.  It was talked about and someone suggested that it was because the bells of Westminster were slightly out of tune…

…Something had gone wrong with the chimes and they were discordant.  The boys did not know there was anything wrong, and quite unconsciously they had copied their pitch. 

We tend to copy the people with whom we associate; we borrow thoughts from the books we read and the programs to which we listen, almost without knowing it.  God has given us His Word which is the absolute pitch of life and living.  God has called us to sing by it…to learn to detect the false in all of the music of the world.   Yet it seems we are failing miserably…allowing the music of the world to dominate our lives…

What beat of the drum do we march to…what is the music that makes up the soundtrack for our lives?

Charles Swindoll writes, “The world system is committed to at least four major objectives, which I can summarize in four words: fortune, fame, power, pleasure.  First and foremost: Fortune, money…The world system is driven by money; it feeds on materialism.  Second: Fame…That is another word for popularity.  Fame is the longing to be known, to be somebody in someone else's eyes.  Third: Power...This is having influence, maintaining control over individuals or groups or companies or whatever.  It is the desire to manipulate and maneuver others to do something for one's own benefit.  Fourth: Pleasure...At its basic level, pleasure has to do with fulfilling one's sensual desires.  It's the same mindset that's behind the slogan: 'If it feels good, do it.'"

The world is a great temptation in our lives…fighting against that temptation, which at times is so subtle and cunning, is a great battle…

Even Jesus fought this temptation…Following the baptism of Christ, He was driven into the wilderness by the Holy Spirit…in the wilderness Jesus was tempted by the devil……the devil offers Jesus all the kingdoms of the world…and the devil states that these kingdoms are his to give…

The kingdoms of this world are at odds with the Christian life…with Jesus Christ and all He taught and died for…the Bible is clear that we are temporary residents to this world…we are foreigners living here…

I Peter 2:11 states, Dear friends, I warn you as “temporary residents and foreigners” to keep away from worldly desires that wage war against your very souls.

As “foreigners and nomads” here on earth we are told in God’s Word to be watchful, careful, to resist the powers of this world that would draw us away from our faith.   

Paul tells us in Romans 12:2, “Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.  Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.”

What a battle we face…a war that tears at us, wears us down, and pulls at us every day.   But we are not the first to fight in this war…to fight this battle…

Daniel fought it…and Daniel fought well…

The world begins to press in on Daniel…the jealousies of the other advisors and administrators, the oppressiveness of those in power, the low morals of those who would have Daniel out of the way so that they could be lifted up…

Daniel 6:6-9 - "The vice-regents and governors conspired together [against Daniel] and then went to the king and said, 'King Darius, live forever! We’ve convened your vice-regents, governors, and all your leading officials, and have agreed that the king should issue the following decree:  For the next thirty days no one is to pray to any god or mortal except you, O king.  Anyone who disobeys will be thrown into the lions’ den.  Issue this decree, O king, and make it unconditional, as if written in stone like all the laws of the Medes and the Persians.' King Darius signed the decree."

Darius is tricked into making a decree that anyone who prayed to any other god or man during the next thirty days beside Darius himself should be thrown into the lion’s den.   Once the decree was put into writing by Darius, it could not be repealed.

Daniel 6:10 - "Now when Daniel knew that the writing was signed, he went home.  And in his upper room, with his windows open toward Jerusalem, he knelt down on his knees three times that day, and prayed and gave thanks before his God, as was his custom since early days."

Daniel continues his battle with the world of Babylon…a world full of people grabbing for power…a world full of over-indulgence…a world full of pride and sin…He goes to his room and continues to pray…to put God at the forefront of his life…

Daniel 6:11-17 - "Then these men assembled and found Daniel praying and making supplication before his God.  And they went before the king, and spoke concerning the king’s decree: 'Have you not signed a decree that every man who petitions any god or man within thirty days, except you, O king, shall be cast into the den of lions?'

The king answered and said, 'The thing is true, according to the law of the Medes and Persians, which does not alter.' 

So they answered and said before the king, 'That Daniel, who is one of the captives from Judah, does not show due regard for you, O king, or for the decree that you have signed, but makes his petition three times a day.' 

And the king, when he heard these words, was greatly displeased with himself, and set his heart on Daniel to deliver him; and he labored till the going down of the sun to deliver him. 

Then these men approached the king, and said to the king, 'Know, O king, that it is the law of the Medes and Persians that no decree or statute which the king establishes may be changed.'

So the king gave the command, and they brought Daniel and cast him into the den of lions.  But the king spoke, saying to Daniel, 'Your God, whom you serve continually, He will deliver you.'  Then a stone was brought and laid on the mouth of the den, and the king sealed it with his own signet ring and with the signets of his lords, that the purpose concerning Daniel might not be changed."

The jealous advisors get just what they want…they now have something against Daniel…the decree the King declared can not be rescinded…Daniel must be thrown into the lion’s den…

Daniel 6:19-22 - "Then the king arose very early in the morning and went in haste to the den of lions.  And when he came to the den, he cried out with a lamenting voice to Daniel.  The king spoke, saying to Daniel, 'Daniel, servant of the living God, has your

God, whom you serve continually, been able to deliver you from the lions?'  

Then Daniel said to the king, 'O king, live forever!  My God sent His angel and shut the lions’ mouths, so that they have not hurt me, because I was found innocent before Him; and also, O king, I have done no wrong before you.'  

Now the king was exceedingly glad for him, and commanded that they should take Daniel up out of the den.  So Daniel was taken up out of the den, and no injury

whatever was found on him, because he believed in his God."    

Look at Daniel…he was resolved in his life to not be pulled into the world…to not allow the world to come between him and his faith…to keep his focus on God and not allow the world to lead him away, causing him to sin and forget the One who loved him so much…

Babylon is not so much a physical place but as Daniel shows…Babylon is much more…it is a state of mind…We live in a world that is very much a Babylon…a society that emphasizes fortune, fame, power and pleasure.   A world that is forcing itself, imprinting itself upon our image…to the point that many of us cannot separate the image of the world from the self-image we now see in the mirror. 

The Bible says that we have been created in the image of Christ…we bear God’s image…yet, others often cannot tell us apart from the world.   Are we allowing the world or God to create our image?  Are we resolved like Daniel to not be influenced by the world, but instead to be an influencer on the world? 

The world’s pull is strong…and on our own strength we will lose the battle…our eyes will stray…our thoughts will wander…our minds will rationalize…our feet will not stand firm…

Alone it is impossible to fight the world…it surrounds us…we are immersed in it…but with God all things are possible…As the psalmist wrote, Psalm 108:13, With God’s help we will do mighty things, for he will trample down our foes.  He will trample down the things of this world that would tear at him and pull him away from God.

Daniel fought the battle…He faced the world and all it threw at him with faith, staying focused on God…We must recognize that we are fighting the same battle…our Babylon might look different on the outside but it is using the same weapons that have been used against humanity since the beginning of time…We must fight…fight to be different…fight to stand out…fight to put and keep God first…We must whistle a different tune…

Remember…like Daniel…we have a strength from above…we cannot do it on our own…we must rely on Him to give us the strength to fight the enemy…to allow God’s Word and His love to have more of an influence in our lives than the things of the world…

A scuba diver lives in the water but breathes the air…

…he or she takes the environment with them.  We are called to do the same, living in the world but breathing in Christ.   

It is time to dive in…and we need not be afraid of the lions that will stalk and confront us…Know that God will shut their mouths…