Great Abilities

 Read Genesis 11

As is sometimes the case, I take the road not taken in this service.  I hit some of the themes that are not the mainstream topic.  We will do a little of that today.  Consider these words from this chapter.

But the Lord came down to see the city and the tower the people were building. The Lord said, “If as one people speaking the same language they have begun to do this, then nothing they plan to do will be impossible for them.”

Look at what humankind can do when they work together.  Nothing should be impossible for us.  We are told that with God, all things are possible.

The problem in Babylon was that God was not included in the equation.  Humankind’s purpose was to make a name for themselves.  It was a very self-centered purpose.  God had better things in store for mankind and he thwarted this building effort.

That’s the main thrust of this section, but let’s consider the statement that prompted God to confuse our language into many languages.

“If as one people speaking the same language they have begun to do this, then nothing they plan to do will be impossible for them.”

We are created in God’s image and likeness.  God is good.  He is all-knowing.  He is powerful.  He is just.  He is righteous.  He is kind.  He is loving.  He is forgiving.

With God, nothing is impossible.

Should not we who are made in his likeness be doing incredible things?  Acting in one accord and with one language can we not do magnificent things? Let’s make a list.

No hunger in the world.

No more war.

Cure cancer and other diseases.

End homelessness.

End bullying everywhere.

Find green solutions that actually work.

Keep our air and water clean.

Stop filling landfills with plastics and other non-biodegradable items.

Replace politicians with public servants.

Live life to the full.

That’s just a list of 10 things.  We could go on and on.  I’ll add one more.  Let’s put Aunt Jemimah back on her syrup bottles.

Remember the premise at Babylon, “If as one people speaking the same language they have begun to do this…”

We live in a world that speaks over 7,000 languages with various dialects within many of those languages. Translators are needed for most international relations, and something is always lost in translation.

When I was on a 6-month cruise to Europe and the Mediterranean, I took my college German materials and studied as we crossed the Atlantic.  We would have a 2-week exercise in Europe, mostly in Germany. I would be ready.

When I got to Germany, the German people’s English was much better than my German and they didn’t want to go to the trouble of letting me practice my German.

Language is still a challenge in world affairs.  There are some common languages in the world.  Mathematics and music top the list.  Typically, they don’t require translation.

Love can be and should be a common language among all peoples, but I want us to now consider not the impediments but the inherent gifts that we have.

We all have gifts and talents and abilities.  Those who have professed Christ as Lord all also bestowed with Spiritual Gifts.

What is my point?  God has equipped you—and all of humankind to do great things.  He wants you to do great things in concert with his will, but we are equipped and have no excuse for not doing great things in this life and on this earth.

If we do these things to bring glory to God, we should expect God to provision us and bless us. If we do them to make a name for ourselves or for our own glory, we might expect God to allow the obstacles of this world to impede us.

Believe that with God all things are possible and believe that God has equipped you to do many great things. 

Jesus said take my yoke and learn from me. Thus, we need a teachable spirit ready to learn God’s ways.  We need to put the teachings of Jesus into practice. 

We need to understand that together when we seek God, his kingdom, and his righteousness, we can do great things.  He has already equipped us—humankind—to do great things.

We are made in his image and likeness and when we seek to do everything for him and for his glory, we can build the tallest tower in the world.

When we seek to serve and gratify and make a name only for ourselves, we should pray that our language confounds us until we return to God.

Amen.