How many of you know the story of the tower of Babel from the Bible?

Genesis 11

The Tower of Babel

 1Now the whole earth had one language and the same words. 2And as people migrated from the east, they found a plain in^(A) the land of Shinar and settled there. 3And they said to one another, "Come, let us make bricks, and burn them thoroughly." And they had brick for stone,^(B) and bitumen for mortar. 4Then they said, "Come, let us build ourselves a city and a tower^(C) with its top in the heavens, and let us make a name for ourselves, lest we be dispersed over the face of the whole earth." 5And^(D) the LORD came down to see the city and the tower, which the children of man had built. 6And the LORD said, "Behold, they are one people, and they have all one language, and this is only the beginning of what they will do. And nothing that they propose to do will now be impossible for them. 7Come,^(E) let us go down and there confuse their language, so that they may not understand one another’s speech." 8So^(F) the LORD dispersed them from there over the face of all the earth, and they left off building the city. 9Therefore its name was called^(G) Babel, because there the LORD confused^[a] the language of all the earth. And from there the LORD dispersed them over the face of all the earth.

Last night I was thinking about how I struggle and strive.  Even as a Christian.  I am constantly TRYING.  TRYING to do the right thing, TRYING to be a good mom, TRYING to be a good wife, TRYING to be a good person, TRYING to do what I THINK God wants me to do.  Okay, STOP right there!  What does the Bible say that God wants me to do?  Micah 6:8 reads,

 "He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the LORD require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God?"

Walk humbly with my God.  God wants me to walk with Him, trust in Him, rely on Him, cling to Him. 

We all (like in Isaiah 53:6) have turned to our own way.  How many times in your life have you heard: 'be the best you can be;' 'always try your best;' 'if at first you don't succeed, try, try again;' 'aim high?'  Then, of course, our society is built upon awards and achievements in school and work.  So what are we doing?  We are building a tower of Babel in our own lives.  We are stacking our good works, awards, achievements to try to earn our way to heaven.  Even as Christians, we can be guilty of this. 

In fact, this heresy has been perpetuated by the church.  Many churches actually tell people to do good deeds.  Especially in this age of the 'social gospel,' we are encouraged to fight the good fight, feed the hungry, help the homeless, reach out to the less fortunate, etc.  All good things- no arguments here!  But doing good on our own power is still trying to earn our way to God.  We think we can become more Godly by reading the Word more often or by praying more, or going to church.  We might even try to manufacture feelings: guilt, humility, love, compassion.  We are trying to do what we think God wants us to do.  We want to do God's job.  Maybe we don't trust Him, maybe we don't want to wait for His timing, maybe we're just used to being self- sufficient.  We might even realize we are doing this and try to fix it by trying to focus on God.  (This is when Christianity starts looking like other religions.  We try to "journey" to God. It is hard to understand why God wouldn't "save" a good Muslim or a good Buddhist.  After all, they are doing all they can to do what is right.  BUT IT IS NOT ABOUT WHAT WE DO.  IT IS WHAT HE HAS DONE!) 

The Bible reads in Philippians 1:6,

6Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ.

HE began a good work in us.  He will continue to perfect us until the day of Jesus Christ.  He will do it.  We just need to obey Him.  The God whose power resurrected Christ from the dead and destroyed the power of sin and death is at work in your life if you are a true believer!  Let Him do as He wills!

In light of this realization, my tower of Babel falls like a house of cards.  I will not strive any longer.  I repent of willfulness and of my false works based Christianity.  I will have no more faith in myself.  I will have faith in Him.  Because He WILL complete the good work He began in my life.  I just need to stay pliable in the Potter's hands!

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