Genesis 11:4 (RSV) Then they said, “Come, let us build ourselves a city, and a tower with its top in the heavens, and let us make a name for ourselves, lest we be scattered abroad upon the face of the whole earth.”
As members of God’s human creation we are the children of our first parents. We bear the marks of their nature. When our egos were first developing; before we learned to hide our rebellion and mask our narcissism, we were like little clowns who did the opposite of whatever we were told. “Come over here and sit beside me.” “No!” “Please eat your peas for Daddy.” “No!” This is rebellion in its most innocent form.
While the outward signs of this innate stubbornness have taken on higher sophistication, they are still just as strong as ever. Do we consider the biblical prohibitions; that is, the laws of God to be “sweeter than honey” or do they leave a bad taste in our mouths?
The story of the tower in Genesis Eleven is a tale of pride and rebellion. It is the social flower of that which was planted by our first parents. It is the fruit of their superciliousness. The Fall is not just a story about “once upon a time” but once upon every time. Pride has broken many a heart and ruined many a relationship.
We are to build a life, but not as the residents of that wicked city did. We are to build as Jesus did. We are to build a life, a day at a time, in submission to God’s will and in accordance to God’s ways. We must, however, never lose sight of that raging two-year-old in each of us. How will you build you life this day?
A heart in every thought renewed
And full of love divine,Perfect and right and pure and good,A copy, Lord, of thine.
Charles Wesley (1707–1788
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