UNITY
Unity is an ideal with universal appeal. In a world full of stark contrasts, the concept of oneness often takes root and motivates individuals to pursue a perceived utopia. While the concept is noble, the motivation is often selfish and the results a catastrophe. We must remember that the world was created with perfect balance, perfect unity. Mankind sacrificed a perfect relationship with God in favor of self-interest. Adam and Eve traded perfection for pain. Soon thereafter the first family was splintered again when Cain murdered his brother leaving him a fugitive. It also left a family missing two sons. (Genesis Ch 3-4) Post flood, the inhabitants of Babel became fixated on building a city with an edifice that reached to heaven. Their desire and efforts to stay in one place were in opposition to God’s will. (Genesis 11:1-9)
The languages with which God divided Babel caused permanent division that has grown to innumerable variations in language and culture across the globe. The division at Babel prevented man from uniting with evil intent. We must take the lesson to heart. Today many people desire to unite under a “one world” government. For others “unity” has come to mean extermination of anyone and anything that differs from them. Man has long since forgotten that we share a single pair of common ancestors. That means that every single human being past, present and future carries the DNA of Adam and Eve. “And He has made from one blood every nation of men to dwell on all the face of the earth, and has determined their preappointed times and the boundaries of their dwellings, so that they should seek the Lord, in the hope that they might grope for Him and find Him, though He is not far from each one of us;” (Acts 17:26-27 NKJV)
Despite differences in language and culture, God can bring mankind back into perfect unity. “For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus.” (Galatians 3:26-28 NKJV) “Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. For if we have been united together in the likeness of His death, certainly we also shall be in the likeness of His resurrection,” (Romans 6:4-5 NKJV)
Unity takes effort. Paul told the Christians at Ephesus they must “endeavor to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.” (Ephesians 4:3 NKJV) That effort was to continue “till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ;” (Ephesians 4:13 NKJV)
God made the first move. “For if when we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life. And not only that, but we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received the reconciliation.” (Romans 5:10-11 NKJV) “For it pleased the Father that in Him all the fullness should dwell, and by Him to reconcile all things to Himself, by Him, whether things on earth or things in heaven, having made peace through the blood of His cross.” (Colossians 1:19-20 NKJV)
“For He Himself is our peace, who has made both one, and has broken down the middle wall of separation, having abolished in His flesh the enmity, that is, the law of commandments contained in ordinances, so as to create in Himself one new man from the two, thus making peace, and that He might reconcile them both to God in one body through the cross, thereby putting to death the enmity.” (Ephesians 2:14-16 NKJV)
Your turn.