June 7
‘If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.’ John 15:5b
Bible reading: Genesis 11:1-9 (Go to the Bible passage)
There are people who – in an attempt to be pious - say of themselves pityingly that they are not capable of doing any good. This kind of piousness has nothing to do with Christian faith, except when we see this in a pure biblical light.
In today’s Bible passage we clearly see the opposite. ‘Nothing they plan to do will be impossible for them.’ That is what God says, when He sees mankind striving for unity and power.
This spirit of Babel influences modern times only too strongly. Small corporations merge to become global players, countries unite to become superpowers and the churches do not lag behind. Where the churches realize they are losing their grip on people, they seek their strength in unity, and the slogan of ecumenism is most profoundly heard where the church has lost most of its influence.
That is the spirit of Babel and when such unifying is crowned by success, we need not be surprised. After all, during the building of the tower of Babel God said that mankind - if united to a single purpose - would be able to achieve marvelous things. And thus that will be the power of the Antichrist.
But God does not make His Kingdom break new ground with the rallying cry: ‘Unity is strength!’ God never says, ‘Clump together,’ instead He says, ‘Go out, spread out.’
Then we will not lose each other. On the contrary, we will feel more than ever how much we need each other. We will recognize one another in our deep dependence on Jesus Who has told us that we must remain in Him, for apart from Him we can do nothing.

Share This