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Heaven On Earth


“Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in me. My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. (John 14:1-3)
          Now the whole world had one language and a common speech. As people moved eastward, they found a plain in Shinar and settled there.
          They said to each other, “Come, let’s make bricks and bake them thoroughly.” They used brick instead of stone, and tar for mortar. Then they said, “Come, let us build ourselves a city, with a tower that reaches to the heavens, so that we may make a name for ourselves; otherwise we will be scattered over the face of the whole earth.” (Genesis 11:1-4)

          There are people, some of whom claim to be Christians, who have this notion that we can build a perfect society here on earth. Some of them even attack anyone who disagrees with their ideas because “How dare we not try!” In fact, my main complaint about Mr. Trump’s “Make America Great Again” slogan is that it echoes that Utopian bell and like Pavlov’s dogs, we’re supposed to come running, licking our chops. Everything will be wonderful if we only just do this one little thing…or maybe it’s two…well, I guess it’s three…oh, one more thing…just keep doing, just keep doing, just keep doing, doing, doing…. Boundaries? What are boundaries? Oh, those are those deceitful things you use to keep our utopia from being all that Lennon imagined. 
          The thing is, if we can create heaven on earth – even if we are well-meaning in our attempt – that means we don’t need Heaven, and we don’t need God. If we create our own Babel, building our tower that reaches to the heavens, to make a name for ourselves, what possible use do we have for God? 
          If we can build our own heaven, then Jesus’ death was worthless and God is either a liar or a fool. If we cannot build our own heaven, then Jesus’ death has value and we are liars or fools for seeking to do so.

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