Genesis 4:1
The sermon emphasizes the inadequacy of human efforts to reach God through religion and highlights God's initiative in reaching humanity through Christ.
Chuck Smith discusses the futility of man's attempts to build towers to heaven through various religious systems, emphasizing that these efforts stem from a universal desire to connect with God. He warns against equating physical structures with God's presence and highlights the confusion and striving that arise from such attempts. Instead, Smith points out that in Christ, God reaches down to humanity, making Himself accessible and restoring us to wholeness. The sermon underscores that true connection with God is not found in rituals or buildings but in a personal relationship with Christ.
Text
"BUILDING TOWERS TO HEAVEN"
I. THIS WAS THE BEGINNING OF MAN'S FALSE RELIGIOUS SYSTEMS.
A. All religious systems have a base, man's attempt to reach heaven.
1. There is a universal awareness of God.
2. Universal desire to worship God.
a. Woman at the well.
B. There are many attempts to localize God.
1. Establishing of sacred places.
2. Creating magic sticks, lucky charms.
3. Carving of idols.
4. We must be careful in building churches.
a. Not to get our eyes on building.
b. Not to think the building is sacred.
c. Not to equate building with presence of God.
1. It is true that God's presence is in this building, and
in the service station and liquor store across the street.
5. God's presence is everywhere.
a. We often lose consciousness of this fact.
b. We carve idols, carry charms to remind us.
II. THE PROBLEM WITH BUILDING TOWERS.
A. We are starting with a finite base attempting to reach infinity.
1. The gulf between the finite and infinity is too great to be bridged by
earth-born endeavors.
2. Man is reaching for the star.
a. Stretch as high as you can.
b. Try jumping.
c. Stand on Mt. Everest and jump.
3. Starting with an earth base, you will never make it.
4. The current philosophical concepts of existentialism talk of the leap of
faith.
5. Every religious system is man reaching for God.
B. They always end in babel, confusion.
1. Rather than finding peace with God, there is a striving within.
2. Rather than rest, a struggle.
3. Notice how religious systems lead to fears, superstitions, oddity.
a. Odd modes of dress.
b. Odd practices.
4. Many attempts to make a religion of Christianity.
a. To equate godliness with a form or style of dress.
b. To create holy orders, spiritual hierarchy.
c. To equate Christianity with anything other than life in Christ is
wrong.
III. IN CHRIST GOD BUILT A TOWER TO REACH MAN.
A. Here is infinity reaching down to the finite.
1. I see no problem here.
a. How impossible for man to touch God'.
b. How easy it is for God to touch man.
2. In Christ God became touchable.
a. I read the words, "And Jesus reached forth and touched him - my
heart thrills."
B. Man's attempts to touch God lead to weird abnormal practices.
1. Running through fire, mutilating bodies, kissing poisonous snakes.
C. God's touch on man restores to normalcy.
1. "And as many as touched Him were made whole."
2. He came to restore fallen man back into the image of God.
Sermon Outline
- I points: - '{''A'': ''All religious systems have a base, man''s attempt to reach heaven.'', ''B'': ''There are many attempts to localize God.''}' - This Was the Beginning of Man's False Religious Systems
- II points: - '{''A'': ''We are starting with a finite base attempting to reach infinity.'', ''B'': ''They always end in babel, confusion.''}' - The Problem with Building Towers
- III points: - '{''A'': ''Here is infinity reaching down to the finite.'', ''B'': ''Man''s attempts to touch God lead to weird abnormal practices.'', ''C'': ''God''s touch on man restores to normalcy.''}' - In Christ God Built a Tower to Reach Man
Key Quotes
“Here is infinity reaching down to the finite.” — Chuck Smith
“And as many as touched Him were made whole.” — Chuck Smith
“How impossible for man to touch God; how easy it is for God to touch man.” — Chuck Smith
Application Points
- Recognize that God's presence is not limited to physical spaces but is everywhere.
- Avoid equating religious practices with true spirituality and focus on a relationship with Christ.
- Understand that true restoration comes from God's touch, not from human efforts.