A Tall Celebration!

Yesterday, the world's tallest building was officially opened. It is the Burj Khalifa building located in the Persian Gulf United Arab Emirate of Dubai. The new skyscraper reaches to a height of 2,717 feet, which makes it more than 1,000 feet taller than the world's previous tallest building located in Taiwan (the tallest skyscaper in the U.S. is Chicago's Willis Tower which stands at 1,451 feet). So as you can see, this new Dubai tower is indeed a SKYscraper!

As I read the newspaper account of the tower's grand opening, I was struck by the following lines: "Its (the tower's) backers wanted the skyscraper to be a monument to the boundless, can-do spirit of Dubai."  Those words struck me because they sounded eerily familiar. So I opened my Bible to Genesis 11:4 and read the following about the inhabitants of the world following the flood of Noah's day: "Come, let us build ourselves a city, with a tower that reaches to the heavens, so that we may make a name for ourselves."  Hmm ... the date on the calendar might have changed - but it seems that the heart of man has not. Humanity continues to seek to live life independent of God .... seeking to rule versus submitting to His rule. Seeking self glory vs. God's glory.

Even those of us who follow Jesus must battle this tendency of our sinful nature. We are NOT independent and self sufficient beings. We are totally dependent upon our God. The Apostle Paul stated this clearly when he told the Athenians on Mars Hill, "He (the God who made everything) himself gives all men life and breath and everything else . . . For in him we live and move and have our being" (Acts 17:25, 28).

During these recent days of heart ache, God has reminded me once again of my great need for Him. May it be a long lasting lesson for me!

Thanks for stopping by . . .

pj