BUILDING TOWERS TO NOWHERE
Mike Madding
Today's Scripture: “‘Come, let us go down and there confuse their language, so that they may not understand one another's speech.’ So the LORD dispersed them from there over the face of all the earth, and they left off building the city.” Genesis 11:7-8; ESV
Theme: Although the Lord frustrated the prideful plans and turned them into babble, He brought healing to us when Jesus came and gave us His Spirit.
REACHING NEW HEIGHTS
This week’s message was built around this main point: Man has always tried to reach new heights. In the case of the Tower of Babel, they literally did try. They wanted to reach as high as God Himself. Not much has changed in 2023. You can’t go anywhere without running across a book, guru, or influencer promising a way to take you to the top or reach a god-like level. Unfortunately, no matter how hard we try to self-improve, there is a cap on how high we can go because of our fallen state. No matter how hard we try, we’ll never reach God.
That is so cool. I love the imagery here. We try to build castles in the sky to reach God. How silly to actually try to build a tower to reach heaven. And how wonderful that God climbed down to reach us. That is what we celebrate at Christmas. Jesus came to earth and took on the form of a human being. Jesus became human to reach me.
MY BUILDING PROJECT
Here is the challenge: Think for a moment about how you might be building your own tower. Let that soak in for a moment. To put it another way, where am I constructing something to accomplish what only God can do? Or where am I striving and working to achieve something that can only be accomplished through the power of God working in me?
My personal building project is the “Eiffel Tower of Peace.” I have tried everything to get to that place of what Scripture describes as perfect peace. “You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you” (Isaiah 26:3, ESV). I focus on John 14:27 (ESV) where Jesus said, “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you.” I take seriously the instruction: “Do not be anxious about anything” (Philippians 4:6a, ESV).
Because I have some anxiety issues, I have pursued peace for a long time. It is important to me. But this peace is so elusive. And I find myself studying what all the experts have to say about it. And wow, I am a great researcher. Researching and studying is what I have done for years as a pastor. I have read all kinds of articles, studies, and books. I have used various apps to try to find this place of perfect peace. And of course, I have searched the Bible, too. There is a lot of great information about how to calm yourself down. Information is everywhere. But knowledge is not enough. Even Bible knowledge alone is not enough.
ONLY BY THE SPIRIT
It is so easy to end up doing exactly what the folks who were building the Tower of Babel did. Most of the things that we want to see changed in our lives are extremely stubborn issues. We throw everything at it that we can find--and we are still stuck with our same old selves, unchanged. Like that old tower, all you get for your effort is a better view of the lay of the land, the issue, the problem.
Though I know a lot about anxiety, stress, and on and on, I can’t overcome it myself. The Holy Spirit has to be actively teaching me. At the same time Jesus shared His peace, He said: “But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you” (John 14:26, ESV). The only thing that really helps is when I am still and quiet enough to hear the still small voice of the Holy Spirit whisper, “Mike.” When the Holy Spirit can break through all my distraction and efforts at fixing myself and speak to me, change begins to happen.
Make It Personal: Take a moment of your time and think deeply about this. Ask God about that stubborn area in your life that needs changing. Mine is peace. What’s yours? Now ask God what to do about it and how to do it. Then develop the practice of getting still and quiet enough to hear the voice of the Holy Spirit each day. This is the way to healing and peace.
Pray: Lord, thank You for sending Jesus and reaching out to me. I admit I sometimes try to build towers to nowhere. Help me to identify my own stubborn areas and to seek Your voice so that I know what next step to take. Thank You for Your peace and Your Spirit who lives within me and teaches me. I want to know You and hear You. Help me to be quiet and listen. In Jesus’ Name I pray. Amen.
Read: John 14:25-27, 20:19-22; Philippians 4:4-9; Zechariah 4:6
Weekly Memory Verse: “Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, saith the Lord of hosts.” Zechariah 4:6b, ESV