When man ceased to walk in fellowship with God, once again, after the days of Noah, man’s ways and thoughts were as different from God’s, as high as the heavens are from the earth! Babel was a ‘good idea’ in the eyes of man, but an abomination in the eyes of God, vs 5-9! This was because God’s will, God’s glory and God’s power/grace was not sought before embarking on the project, vs 3,4. This idea was not only selfish but was done in order to show oneself as invincible and unstoppable as God Himself!

James 3 asks us
13  Who is wise and understanding among you? By his good conduct he should show his works done in the gentleness that wisdom brings.
 14  But if you have bitter jealousy and selfishness in your hearts, do not boast and tell lies against the truth.
 15  Such wisdom does not come from above but is earthly, natural, demonic.

Such was the wisdom with which Babel was being built and, needless to say, God came down and confused and destroyed the work! Yes, even Satan seeks to destroy and bring confusion into God’s work. So the question is not whether the work we do is threatened to be destroyed, but rather what is the motivation with which we have begin doing the work. Has it been initiated by a burden and call given by God Himself, (like Abraham’s call was), and is it being done for God’s glory and in God’s strength? Every work done that has its source in God will stand the test of time and the gates of hell will not be able to prevail against it.

So, as we have our ears tuned to what God is doing in this season and become willing to make those sacrifices to go out of our comfort zone and stay with the Lord, just like Abraham did in Genesis 12:1-9 and Genesis 13-15, we will find ourselves being part of this holy body that God is building which is called, the Church of God. However, if not, we ourselves may be saved, but only as through fire. (like Lot was)!

1 Corinthians 3 tells us
14  If what someone has built survives, he will receive a reward.
15  If someone’s work is burned up, he will suffer loss. However, he himself will be saved, but only as through fire.

Lot was a righteous man, in that he did not participate in the sins of Sodom,2 Peter 2:7,8, and was indeed vexed by their evil behaviour! However, he sought his own convenience and refused to leave the place for selfish reasons!

Abraham on the other hand obeyed God on paying the price by giving up His will and his comfort and convenience and showing his sacrificial obedience to God, by building an altar each time God gave him a promise or each time he shifted his residence in line with God’s direction, Genesis 12:7,8 and13:3,4. Today, the outcome of their lives is laid bare for all of us to see! What choices are we making given our present situations and the call of God upon our lives? Will we choose like Abraham or like Lot? However, one thing we can be sure of, what we sow, we shall surely reap! And the fruit of what we reap will be laid bare for all to see!

Rowena Thomas
Mumbai, India.