Stairway To Heaven
Introduction:
We live in a world that is (in many ways) becoming less certain about knowing what to believe. The word “truth” can be defined by many of us as the Holy Word of God, whereas, “truth” to most people is foolishly being determined with personal opinions and philosphy.
In other words, we now live in a world that is deciding for itself what is right or what is wrong. This world is becoming more and more confused about what “truth” really is.
I am convinced that the world wants to know what “truth” really is, but just can’t seem to find it. I would suggest that this world we live in can be easily compared with the world as it was in Genesis 11.
Text: Genesis 11:1 thru 4
Prayer:
I am thankful today for what Jesus said in John 14, “I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life…” Many of us have the “Truth”, but we live in a world that often does not.
The people of Genesis 11 give us insight of where mankind is headed if he continues to ignore and reject God’s Plan of Salvation for him.
The Genesis’ account tells us that after Noah’s Flood everyone in the world spoke the same language.
As the population began to grow, people moved to new areas. One group of people moved to the Plain of Shinar. We know it as Babylonia or part of Iraq.
There the people decided amongst themselves to build a STAIRWAY TO HEAVEN. They also wanted to make a name for themselves, and they did not want to be scattered to other areas of the earth. They selfishly decided that they would isolate themselves from the rest of the world. This was because no one else really mattered to them, but themselves.
Notice vs. 4 –
1. “let us build a city”
2. “let us make name” or (NLT), “a moment to our greatness.”
Some scholars think that these people remembered the Great Flood of Noah, and did not believe in the covenant that God had promised (to not destroy the world again with water). So, to create a means of escape, the people began to build a STAIRWAY TO HEAVEN.
This is very possible – they knew they were living was evil and that God would eventually judge them as He judged man during the days of Noah. Terrifying thought for them!
This was to be a stationary/permanent type of a Noah’s Ark. Something they could run to when God would once again judge the earth with water. What the people were trying to do was to outsmart God, and escape any future judgment for their sins.
Even though they knew they were living ungodly lives, they were determined not to ever turn back to God and admit, confess or repent of their sins.
That may have very well been their reasoning, but we should understand this about our ever trying to save ourselves or even justify the way we live:
On our own man is never good enough, powerful enough, smart enough, creative enough, loving enough, holy enough…to ever become a god and save himself from his sins.
Man will always need God to save him.
Example:
There are times when we think what we are doing is okay with God. Such is the case for even some Christians living today. A well meaning Christian may decide for them self what they will do with the tithes that they owe God. I have known those who will see someone they think is in need of money and give their tithe to them. They justify their actions rather than being obedient to the Lord with their first fruits. This seems acceptable in their own eyes but is not in accordance with God’s laws.
Well here is another thought about what happened at the tower of Babel. Some scholars think the people in Genesis 11 thought they could build a tower that would reach Heaven, and somehow they would become their own gods.
Perhaps they wanted to become equal with God.
There are many cultish religions today that believe in “ascension”. They build their own tower to the heavens.
Question: How many people do you know who are trying to get to Heaven in some way other than God’s way?
How many people of our day think they will go to heaven because they were a good person?
Or, because they go to church on Sunday?
Or, because they were brought up in a Christian home with Christian parents or Christian grandparents?
This trying to get to heaven on our own terms and not God’s is truly a problem that still plagues man (thousands of years later). Listen, man’s plan of escape will not work!
I have been to the top of two of the tallest buildings in the world in Chicago and New York. They didn’t get me any closer to heaven…
The things that man is doing today to earn his way into heaven are just as foolish as building a STAIRWAY TO HEAVEN. What some people are attempting to do today by trying to bend what the Bible says about salvation is just as foolish what we can read about in Genesis 11.
Consider and compare the people of our day with the people of Genesis 11 with these thoughts:
I. BABEL DISPLAYED ARROGANCE AND PRIDE. They wanted to become equal to Jehovah and become gods on their own. They did not want anyone to try and tell them what they could or could not do. They would develop their own truths and their own values to live by. Like many living today, they had their own philosophies to live their lives by. They did not need God, or want God.
II. BABEL DIVIDED MEN THROUGH LANGUAGE. Their was a common language that made it easy for the people to decide things on their own, amongst themselves. They were telling one another that what was once sinful was acceptable. They were agreeing together about the evil ways they were living in. They were finding it easier to communicate with themselves than it was to communicate with Jehovah. Thus, Jehovah was not needed to speak to them or guide them, anymore. Just like the people of our day, they had perfected the means of communication. We now have the internet, cell phones, satellite phones, text messaging that is supposedly making our lives better where we can rely on ourselves.
III. BABEL SHOWS US MAN IS FULL OF HIMSELF. The people were becoming rebellious, selfish and full of greed. Man was at a point of only wanting to do things his way, and not God’s. Man was finding his strength within himself and was becoming more self sufficient and independent. Man did not need God’s power. Even God acknowledges this in verse 6, “Nothing will be impossible for them.” (NLT)
IV. BABEL BROUGHT THE DESTRUCTION OF THE TOWER. The people of Babel had to have known the story of Noah and the great flood. They knew the reason why God flooded the earth. It was simple. God had to cleanse the earth of sin. They knew also that there was no plan of escaping God’s judgment of water unless they elevated themselves above God’s wrath. This foolishness to build a STAIRWAY TO HEAVEN seemed very logical and the easy way out for them. Their sins caused the destruction of everything they had built on their own!
In these last days, sin has become so common and acceptable that I some cases man is on a path of self destruction. Be it a terrorist with a bomb strapped to his/her chest, or one of us with booze in our refrigerator. Left to our devices, our own judgment, we are very likely to destroy ourselves…
V. BABEL SCATTERED MAN OVER THE FACE OF THE EARTH. This was done so that all would know of God’s hand of judgment and wrath. It would reinforce God’s determination that people everywhere and throughout all time would understand that God is sovereign and not to be ignored. Scattering the people over the earth was not what they wanted, but it was necessary for the sake of God’s Kingdom.
God would no longer tolerate sin, but his hand of judgment became a fist that crumbled the tower of Babel.
Question:
How does this ancient story apply to how we live today?
God has established a NEW COVENANT with man based on His mercy and forgiveness. He knows the importance of man’s ability to speak in a language that will glorify Him and bring peace and prosperity to this earth.
But this time the language that would restore mankind would become known to us as the “unknown language”.
But first, in order for this to happen, God had to send us His Son, Jesus Christ to save us from our sins and deliver us from evil. Nothing will matter or take place in saving us until we first make that decision to surrender our lives to Him.
So you see – John 14 is still the answer. Jesus said, “I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life.”
Application:
In the meantime, mankind is (once again) attempting to build for himself a STAIRWAY TO HEAVEN. He often believes he can build this without having to rely on God. With all of man’s technology and intellect, he is convincing himself more each day that he does not need God. Modern man has once again filled himself with foolish pride.
Notice in our text how far man failed God, and how far he can fail God with his pride…
I. PRIDE WILL AFFECT OUR WORSHIP. “Whose top will reach up to heaven.”
A) This tower was a ziggurat with runway or stair that went around the edge circling all of the way up to the top. Archaeologists are still (to this day) digging up and finding ziggurats throughout this region of the world. At the top of these towers there was an altar used for pagan sacrifice.
B) Pride affects our worship when we try to impress God or others with our goodness or our idols.
C) I cannot worship God with a spirit of pride. Psa 101:5
The word “suffer” means to endure or in our words “put up with.”
II. PRIDE WILL AFFECT OUR VIEW OF LIFE. “and let us make us a name.”
A) Every person who has attempted to be a world ruler has been defeated. From to Hitler to Stalin and on to Sadam Hussein and eventually the Antichrist in end times. Destruction and judgment from God is promised to the one with this attitude.
B) Pride will cause us to ignore the direction of the Holy Spirit in our life.
C) We will take credit for things that we shouldn’t.
D) Pride will cause a great deal of envy and division in our life, home, and church.
III. PRIDE WILL RESULT IN THE VERY THING WE WANT TO AVOID. “lest we be scattered”
1) A man’s pride shall bring him low: but honour shall uphold the humble in spirit. Prov 29:23
2) Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up. James 4:10
