One of the most amazing facts of history is that devout men, learned in the Law, zealously serving God to the best of their ability, would be so deceived as to murder God's Christ.

We all should take heed to this example. Whenever we aspire to religious prominence or power, Satan is not far away. Christian leaders throughout history have tortured and killed many hundreds of thousands of innocent followers of Jesus. Yet, just as was true of the chief priests and elders, they thought they were serving the God of Heaven.

We say we would never do such a thing. How do we know? The Scriptures warn us clearly concerning Babylon. We are to come out of Babylon, as the Lord leads us, and serve the Lord in a personal way, not just as part of a Christian system. We are to seek the Lord daily, remembering that Satan is intent on deceiving us.

This does not mean we cannot attend a denominational church or participate in the activities of the denomination. But we must always keep in mind that we are married to Jesus, not to an organization.

The day will come, according to the Scripture, when God will call His true people out of Babylon. When that hour arrives we must be ready to leave without glancing back even one time. We shall leave many friends behind, because they are married to the system, not to the Lord.

Whoever is seeking power and prestige in a Christian denomination is in danger of being deceived by Satan. He may think he wants a position of prominence because of the good he can do. It is highly unlikely that this is his true motive. He is deceiving himself. He, like Satan, is aspiring to be "like God."

The "high hills" of religious aspiration "leap" in their pursuit of honor and preeminence. But God has chosen Zion.

Why leap ye, ye high hills? this is the hill which God desireth to dwell in; yea, the Lord will dwell in it for ever. (Psalms 68:16)

Korah, Dathan, and Abiram were filled with satanic envy. They desired to receive the honor being given to Moses and Aaron. They brought themselves, their families, and their followers, to destruction.

They, and all that appertained to them, went down alive into the pit, and the earth closed upon them: and they perished from among the congregation. (Numbers 16:33)

After this, God showed by the miracle of Aaron's rod that He had chosen Aaron. Aaron was no better a person than any other member of Israel. The difference was, God had chosen him. The blossoming of Aaron's rod signified the choosing of Aaron and symbolized the creation and maintenance of the royal priesthood of God by the power of resurrection life.

True Judaism and true Christianity, which constitute the only God-given plan of redemption, were instituted and operate according to the plan that God made before the heavens and the earth were created. Whenever ambitious man, following the lead of Satan, decides to acquire prominence in the Judaic or Christian realm, he exposes himself to the danger of becoming part of Babylon or of the False Prophet.

The high hills leap in vain, because the true Divine salvation works in terms of God's choices.

To be continued.