A rather unlikely comparison the Lord led me to this morning was between Babel and the church. In Genesis 11, we read that “the whole earth had one language and the same words.” As a result, there was incredible potential to what God’s image bearers could accomplish together! God said in Genesis 11:6, “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” (emphasis added). The problem with sin though, is that it robs us of God-given potential. Instead of obeying the mandate to be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth, the people chose to settle and build a name for themselves. The end result, God confused their language, dispersed them, and what remained was an unfinished city. That was Babel.
Fast forward to our Redeemer, Jesus Christ. He who was looking down on Babel years ago, now enters into this world full of sinners still seeking to make a name for themselves. He lives a perfect life, not making a name for Himself, but always bringing glory to the Father. Jesus is crucified, dies, resurrects Himself from the grave, and as a result redeems the potential that mankind lost at Babel.
But rather than return the earth back to one language, at Pentecost, God takes the message of the good news and inserts it into the languages of all who were there “from every nation under heaven” (Acts 2:5). Even today we experience the blessing of what followed at Pentecost as Jesus continues to build His Church.
Looking around on a Sunday morning, I see a family who once spoke different “languages” now growing in gospel fluency. Brothers and sisters who were once dispersed, lost and confused in this world, who have now been brought near by the blood of Christ. A church family, not seeking to build a name for themselves, but seeking by divine grace to display the character of God, through the people of God, for the glory of God. Thanks be to God who has redeemed the potential of His image bearers! The potential that sin robbed at Babel can now be redeemed in the church through Jesus Christ.
Ephesians 4:15-16 commands us, “Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into Christ, from whom the whole body, joined together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love.” If we speak the truth without love we become a legalistic church. If we speak in love without truth we become a heretical church. But if we speak the truth in love, we grow and mature together and experience the blessings that Jesus has for His church. While sin robs us of God-given potential, through the power of the gospel that potential is redeemed.
Pray and ask the Lord this week:
What does it mean for me to speak the truth in love?
Where do my words lack truth and/or love?
When do I need to guard my heart from responding harshly or dishonestly?
How can I grow in patience when others around me do not speak the truth in love?
Who can I build up in love this week?