"And the Lord
came down to see the city and the tower, which the children of men
builded." Gen. 11:5
The three sons of
Noah had brought forth a generation that was mixed in its loyalty to the Most
High. Shem and Japheth's lines both revered and honored Him; but that of Ham,
particularly through his son Canaan, cursed God and set their minds against Him
who had just recently shown His power to be great through the flood.
Humanity will never
learn.
For years, the
people of Noah had dwelt in the mountains near the ark, but now, the company of
God-fearing men became too hot for the unrepentant and rebellious: and off to
the plain of Shinar they went, whisperings and threatenings in their hearts.
We all know what
happened. "And they said, Go to, let us build us a city and a tower, whose
top may reach unto heaven; and let us make us a name, lest we be scattered
abroad upon the face of the whole earth." Gen. 11:4
The Lord had
expressly told them to scatter abroad on the face of the earth. And now they
say, "Let's do something, anything,
to avoid what the Lord has said."
The result? The
tower grew, apostasy grew: so much so that Mrs. White states, "Had this
confederacy been permitted, a mighty power would have borne sway to banish
righteousness--and with it peace, happiness, and security--from the
earth." PP 123
The keepers of
righteousness in the hills knew this. "Those that feared the Lord cried
unto Him to interpose." (PP 123) They knew what would befall the earth if
this scheming people on the plain of Shinar were allowed to accomplish their
purposes.
So the Lord
"came down to see the city and the tower."
And decided that
some should speak Arabic, some Greek, some Hebrew--Chinese, English, Spanish,
French, Karen, Thai, Mongolian, Cherokee, German, Swedish, Indian, Tagalog, and
a thousand others.
And they were indeed
"scattered abroad upon the face of the whole earth." "Thus the
Lord's purpose was accomplished through the very means that men had employed to
prevent its fulfillment." PP 120
The builders of
Babel never again picked up hammer and chisel to complete their vision of
splendor. It remained for years as a testament to man's failed attempt at
defying and disbelieving God.
Some day, and that
right soon, "the Most High will come down to see what the children of men
have builded." "The time of God's investigation is at hand." (PP
124)
"According to
the grace of God which is given unto me, as a wise masterbuilder, I have laid
the foundation, and another buildeth thereon. But let every man take heed how
he buildeth thereupon.
"For other
foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.
"Now if any man
build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble;
"Every man's
work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be
revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man's work of what sort it is.
"If any man's
work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward.
If any man's work
shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as
by fire." 1 Corinthians 3:10-15
That says it pretty
plainly. But I'll say it even simpler.
What you build in this life matters. And if
you don't build on Jesus, your work won't even be accounted for.
However, you could
still lose all your effort; even if you do build on Jesus. It depends on the
materials you use. "Gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay,
stubble…" Gold, silver, and precious stones are all worthy and well able
to pass through a test of fire. Wood, hay and stubble? I think not.
Soon, very soon, the Lord will come down to see what
you have been building all your life.
What will He find
when He investigates your workmanship?
Gold, or hay? Silver
or stubble?
Lord God, may my building be worthy of passing
through the fire.
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