Week 3 of 2025

When we study the rises and falls of great empires, such as Egypt, Babylonia, China, Persia, Greece, Rome, Germany, and Russia, we will find that each was burdened with trying to make sense of who they were as a people and what their purpose was in this world. At the same time, there was a demand to worship the greatness of the state, government, or ruler. The state or empire was sovereign, and everyone contributed to the greatness of his or her state.

Today many continue to look to the nature of humankind and government as means to unify us as one great element. The problem is that throughout the history of humankind, we have never been able to reach greatness. (There were great people but never universal greatness.) We always find ourselves in the wake of a tyrant or series of tyrants who bring about the fall of the empire, no matter how great or small it is.

There is, and always has been, the opportunity to pursue perfection for all humanity, which has eluded us from the beginning. The answer does not lie in the greatness of the individual alone, governments, empires, or rulers. Proverbs 14:12 states, “There is a way that seems right to a man, but in the end, it leads to death” (NKJV).

Is our attempt for greatness In vain?  Would there be a difference if there were a spiritual unity and guidance instead?