Get a team of engineers together and they can figure out elaborate highway systems. They can design new vehicle models. It is an amazing thing to watch people use intelligence, creativity and old fashioned teamwork to accomplish something noble and good.
It is also true that people use intelligence, creativity and teamwork to create evil for harm and destruction. It is a frightening thing what can happen when people come together with a common goal. When people come together they can focus on dreams that do not honor God. In fact, their dreams try to usurp God.
In history it has been seem in dictatorial governments like Joseph Stalin, Adolph Hitler, Saddam Hussein and Fidel Castro. Way before that it happened early in the human saga. You can read about it the book of Genesis.
Genesis 11:1-9 (ESV)
1 Now the whole earth had one language and the same words.
2 And as people migrated from the east, they found a plain in the land of Shinar and settled there.
3 And they said to one another, “Come, let us make bricks, and burn them thoroughly.” And they had brick for stone, and bitumen for mortar.
4 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 dispersed over the face of the whole earth.”
5 And the LORD came down to see the city and the tower, which the children of man had built.
6 And the LORD said, “Behold, they are one people, and they have all one language, and this is only the beginning of what they will do. And nothing that they propose to do will now be impossible for them.
7 Come, let us go down and there confuse their language, so that they may not understand one another’s speech.”
8 So the LORD dispersed them from there over the face of all the earth, and they left off building the city.
9 Therefore its name was called Babel, because there the LORD confused the language of all the earth. And from there the LORD dispersed them over the face of all the earth.
The sin nature runs deep. Wicked thoughts turn into wicked plans. Wicked plans carried out produce devastation and death. One day we will see it on full display when mankind comes together to form a one world government under a sinister Satan controlled leader. We are closer than we might think. There are people who work night and day to make this reality come true.
What I find so odd is how often the church does not come together in unity How often church members are at odds with one another backstabbing, backbiting, and backsliding. Sometimes these battles spill out into the community impacting lost people and turning them off from the church and worse from Jesus.
Why can't church folks always work together toward the accomplishment of a common goal? Power struggles, selfish agendas, secret meetings and manipulative maneuvers often characterize church goers more than humility, unity and putting other's interests above self.
I have seen the beauty of a church coming together to achieve something great for God. I have also seen the the pain of church people at odds with one another hurting one another. It is not pretty. I have seen church business meetings resemble bloodbaths. Why would unchurched people want to be a part of that. They see enough of that behavior in corporate America.
I am inspired by a group who came together to do something great for God. They worked as a team to accomplish a great dream. Teamwork made the dream work. Read about it for yourself.
Acts 2:42-47 (ESV)
42 And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers.
43 And awe came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were being done through the apostles.
44 And all who believed were together and had all things in common.
45 And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need.
46 And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts,
47 praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved.
What kind of person are you? What kind of people do you associate with? Are you working together for God honoring dreams or have you joined forces with those hell bent on evil? What dream are you working toward? May it glorify God.
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