Genesis 11
The Tower of Babel
1)At one time all the people of the world spoke the same language and used the same words. 2)As the people migrated to the east, they found a plain in the land of Babylonia* and settled there. 3)They began saying to each other, “Let’s make bricks and harden them with fire.”(In this region bricks were used instead of stone, and tar was used for mortar.) 4)Then they said, “Come, let’s build a great city for ourselves with a tower that reaches into the sky. This will make us famous and keep us from being scattered all over the world.”5)But the LORD came down to look at the city and the tower the people were building. 6)“Look!”he said. “The people are united, and they all speak the same language. After this, nothing they set out to do will be impossible for them! 7)Come, let’s go down and confuse the people with different languages. Then they won’t be able to understand each other.”
Notice verse 6. God says that because the people are united and speak the same language, nothing they set out to do will be impossible for them.
Yes, people can succeed when they are united, when they have the self-will and determination to succeed and when they believe in their abilities and work positively towards their goals, towards what they want to achieve in their lives. By being united in their thinking and actions, men have invented useful things and also weapons of destruction. By being united with a common goal in mind, men have been successful in helping humanity to progress and have also been successful in mass murder. So it is definitely possible to succeed, both in helpful and harmful ways, when people are united.
From time immemorial, motivational speakers have immortalized the advantages of success, without mentioning God. We have seen many self-made men and women reach the pinnacles. Many such people have received noble prizes for their efforts. Many have been laurelled as men and women of the year. Yes, we have seen many achieve fame in their lives. Some with God and some on their own, without seeking God.
But what we did not see, what we could not see, of those who seemed to be successful without God in their lives, was the state of their souls and where they are now after their death. We did not and could not see their emotional state and the mental and physical anguish they went through without God.
Many lived and died without knowing God. Many lived and died rejecting God. Many died depressed or committed suicide because even a successful life could not satisfy their weary, sin struck souls. Externally they seemed to know it all, have it all and seemed to be successful. But internally they were simply wrecked without God.
Without surrendering our lives and our plans to our Creator God, we will not have any clue about which way to go and what to do. We may think that achieving a certain goal will be beneficial to us but it may turn out to be detrimental. When we let God take over and guide us we will be led in the right path. Although we don't succeed in the way we want, we will succeed in another because, that will be what God has planned for us. God's plan for us will always be the best.
"When you eat of this fruit, you will become like God, knowing good and evil," said Satan to Eve, in the garden of Eden. Thus Adam and Eve disobeyed God just because they wanted to be 'like God'! Ever since, Satan has been telling that to every man and woman. "You can do it! Just believe in yourself! You have the power within you! You don't need God! You are a god in yourself! You need to be happy, so do what satisfies you! You can make a name for yourself and become powerful !" This is what Satan whispers in the minds of everyone. He did the same to Nimrod who built the tower of Babel and he continues doing it to you and me today.
God confused their language then and scattered them throughout the world. Centuries later man has learnt to speak many languages. English and some other common languages have united the people who were once scattered, into one again. Computer programming languages are now uniting the brains all around the world. So what can keep man from succeeding?
Don't get me wrong. Success is not bad. Success without God is.
God loves us and wants us to succeed. Do you want to succeed God's way? If you do, then remember the following 3 points:-
1) Acknowlege that your very breath, strength, abilities, the talents and given opportunities, all come from God. Thank Him. Surrender them totally to God. This will truly help you succeed in the way God wants you to.
2) Align your desires and plans with God's. You will truly succeed.
3) Obey God's commands. Obedience to God's 'will' in your life will attract success and make success run after you.
Jesus has promised to give you His peace, the peace which you can never receive from this world. He calls you to come to Him and has promised to give you peace and rest, not as the world gives.
Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.
(John 14:27)
Then Jesus said, "Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. [29] Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls. [30] For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light."
(Matthew 11:28-30)
When you turn to Jesus, He will never leave you nor forsake you.
For I hold you by your right hand- I, the LORD your God. And I say to you, 'Don't be afraid. I am here to help you. (Isaiah 41:13)
So will you trust in Jesus and give Him your burdens and your plans today, to be successful in this life, (In the way God measures success and not as the world does.)and to enjoy God for all eternity?
Give your burdens to the LORD, and he will take care of you. He will not permit the godly to slip and fall. (Psalm 55:22)
Many have tried to write their success stories with their sweat and blood and failed miserably.
Come to Jesus because He has written our success stories with His blood on the cross and has risen victoriously.
It is up to you to decide now. Do you want to succeed without God? The consequences will be, temporal worldly joy and temporal worldly peace and temporal satisfaction, but permanent and eternal separation from God, in this life and the next.
It is entirely up to you. You decide! 👉
Mary Augustine
09/09/18
