Do Not Worry About Your Greatness - You Have Christ!
Text: Genesis 11:1-9
In the name of Jesus. Amen.
The people of Genesis 11 were on a mission to become great – to
defy the limitations of life. The people of Babel set out to build something –
a tower. It was to be a focal point of their greatness. It was to reach the
heavens to signify man’s greatness and perhaps serve as a place of safety to
survive another worldwide flood.
Oh, how things have not changed! We play the same game as the
people of Babel.
Dear friends, take a step back consider all the energy that is
expended, all the grandiose ideas we hear, and all the plans that we make in
this life to try and never grow old, never die, seek to defy the threats of
nature, and make a great name for ourselves. Consider how we try to become
masters and commanders of the universe. Oh, how the spirit of Babel lives
on.
We humans can’t help it, it seems. We just love the spirit of
Babel because apart from God, we detest the idea of our mortality and our
weaknesses in this life. And so, we set out on this mission to advance our
so-called revolutions to improve the human race and make mankind the great god
of the universe.
If you read history, you will see the spirit of Babel in every
generation. Yes, in every generation, zealous youth who are naïve to the
reality of death, as well as powerful politicians who are afraid of death, will
join forces to fix the problems of life. With bold plans, they will seek to
create a world where we are protected from the threats of ‘mother nature.’ They
will seek to create a world where mankind is in control of the past, present,
and future. They will seek to create a world where man is in control and
mankind is exalted for their achievements.
(Keep in mind that typically what
is at the center of all these plans is some bold tower – some bold solution or
icon that praises the name of mankind and unites everyone in a feeling of
belonging.)
Now, even though these missions, revolutions, and ideas seem
very good, they are – in reality - very demonic. They are demonic not
necessarily because they are trying to make life better but because at their
center is not the name of God but mankind’s name wrapped in smug pride. The
spirit of Babel naively tries to create a perfect world that is absent of God
with mankind’s name at the very center.
To make sure we understand the spirit of Babel, let us hear our
Old Testament reading one more time, with emphasis:
“Come let
us build ourselves a city and a tower . .
. let us make a
name for ourselves.”
Now, did you hear it? The tower was not built for God or His
Church but built for themselves. It was not even built for the name of God but
for their very own name. The people of Babel attached their name to the
structure to commemorate their greatness. They built a tower to serve as a
rallying point of mankind’s elaborate schemes to advance the human race and
live with complete independence from the threats of nature and God Himself. The
spirit of Babel makes mankind very big and God very small – no, that is not
true; it centers on mankind’s name and eliminates God’s name
entirely.
Now, as we think about this, we have to admit that the spirit of
Babel is quite contagious, is it not? It is everywhere in our world, and even
here, right in this church. Who among us does not like to be high and lifted
up, looking down on others, saying,
“Look at us up here!”
Who of us does not like feeling famous, safe, and happy –
wanting everything to be right while being quite pleased with the lives we
think we have built with our own hands?
How often do we expect people to bow to our greatness or get
offended when people do not recognize our contributions to the church and
world?
How quick are you and I to take credit for the good things in
life while blaming God for the bad things in life?
How often do our solutions in life leave God out of the equation
– as if this life could be a better place if the morons in the world would just
step it up, like us?
Dear friends, may we all repent! Every-single-one-of-us! Yes, we
need to repent because the tower of Babel has fallen. It does not remain
standing today. God confused the language of those at Babel. And the tower of
Babel no longer exists because the endeavors, missions, and goals of mankind
are like dust. They whither. They fade. They do not last. For example, do you
remember the 29th president of the United States? Do you remember the name of
your great-great-grandfather? Do you remember the greatest emperor of
Rome? How about the Second World Series Champions, or the 1972 NBA MVP, or the
1998 Academy Award Winner for best actor, or the 53rd Annual Grammy Winner for
the best female artist? Do you remember? I don’t. And frankly, nobody
remembers either. Nobody remembers what happened yesterday. And the things that
will happen tomorrow? Don’t count on those things being remembered either. To
the point, all our puny towers and little names do not last and will not be
remembered.
All of this begs the question: if the spirit of Babel is like
dust, why are we so addicted to the spirit of Babel? Why do we expend so much
energy to build our little towers and try to make our name great? We
should already know that we are just not that great. We are just not that
special. We should already know that the Lord always opposes the proud. The
Lord is against the arrogance of mankind,
In his letter to the Philippians, the Apostle Paul understands
our foolish desire for the spirit of Babel. He actually confronts it to show us
just how pathetic, vain, and useless it is. Let me paraphrase Paul,
“Stay away from those religious busybodies who are full of hot
air. All they are interested in is appearances – trying to climb to the top to
wave their credentials around as if they are something special!
You know my credentials, don’t you? I am from the elite tribe of
Benjamin. I have been a strict and devout adherent of God’s Law. I have
observed everything meticulously. I have walked the walk and talked the talk
more than anyone else. If anyone has reason to brag, I have more. If anyone
thinks they are high up, I am higher. I have more reason to brag than you!
But all these things that I have accomplished? Well, I’ve thrown
them in the trash. They are worthless. They are on the same level as horse dung
and cow manure and dirty diapers of babies. They are skubala compared to
the surpassing worth of knowing Christ and Christ knowing me.”
Baptized Saints, the reason why we are so addicted to the spirit
of Babel is that this is the way of our sinful nature. It is also what happens
when we do not have the surpassing worth of knowing Christ and Christ knowing
us.
Think about it for a moment! Christ Jesus never withers or fades
because He has existed before time and will exist after time. And what Jesus
accomplished at the cross and empty tomb? It was not just a local event for a
local time for local people – something that can easily be forgotten. It
happened for the whole world and for all time and for all people. And so, the
gates of hades will never erase the good news of Christ crucified and
resurrected for the forgiveness of sins. It simply cannot be forgotten.
And Christ? Even though He has ascended above all things to the
right hand of God the Father, Jesus, though, is never too big or too divine to
forget you. That is to say, Christ made you in the first place. And so, don’t
be afraid; He bled for you and died for you and rose for you. He calls you by
your name. You belong to Him and He to you. When you go through death, Christ
will be with you. When you are buried six feet under, He will not forget you.
And when you muddle through this life, He is for you with forgiveness, life,
and salvation.
And so, even though the world plays the games of Babel –
building towers and competing to have a name – you Christians do not need to
play the games of Babel, for you have Christ and Christ has you.
Listen up! You do not need to compare, grade, or compete at the
game of Babel because the whole game is insignificant compared to Christ.
Listen up! You do not need to go through life with an inflated
head – walking around as if you are high and mighty! You need not worry
about your name, your greatness, or the size of your towers. You need not do
any of this because you already have the high privilege of knowing the One who
defeated the world, death, and the devil – Christ.
Baptized Saints, dump the spirit of Babel in the trash! You have
been purchased by Christ! Besides, the spirit of Babel is a petty and inferior
brand of righteousness compared to Christ.
Baptized Saints, take comfort! You do not need a tower; you do
not need to make a name for yourself. You have Jesus, and Jesus knows your
name. And unlike Babel, Christ’s kingdom will not fail, His name endures, and
His grace is sufficient for you in this life and into eternity.
In the name of Jesus. Amen.
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