What can a quote from William Durant teach us today about the downfall of civilisations.
‘A great civilization is not conquered from without until it has destroyed itself from within’.
Take a second to ponder upon this quote from William Durant; it seems to reflect the collapse of many ancient and even modern civilisation. Once upon a time all people shared one mother tongue. However, a scheme was intended to build a tower to ascend to the heavens, it was disrupted and God decided to divide the people through language. What was once held common became a major divider. Inevitably kingdom after kingdom rose to its peak then collapsed. Read Genesis 11.
The nation of Israel depicts a people that were conquered from without as a result of first destroying themselves from within. At Israel’s peak during David and Solomon’s reign, their dominion extended far across their borders. Nonetheless, as the subsequent Kings neglected to acknowledge to whom they were accountable to and sought unwise counsel. The government of Israel was unable to restrain the people’s carnality. Time after time God sent forth Prophets urging the Kings of Israel and Judah to repent from the error of their ways. Nonetheless, the kings ignored the urgent warnings to repent and turn from idolatry. Therefore there was no cohesion, solidity or order like it was during Solomon’s reign when the priests taught the law to the people and law and order was enforced. Read 1st Samuel and I Kings.
No law breeds chaos; a kingdom underpinned by the right type of law produces stability within a nation. Jesus the appointed King was conveying that a nation that is not built upon a theocratic system will only fail as a result of the many contradictions that exist within every other government type opposed to Theocracy. Paul’s exhortation to the Ephesians’ elders in Acts is pertinent as it warns of crafty men that will pervert the law of God and dilute its meaning permitting many to be deceived. Read Acts 20, Matthew 12.
Many believers allude to a concept of a ‘nation of believers’. However, one just has to glaze over society and see that as a ‘nation’ we are undermined by the system around us. We are enslaved to a philosophy, a system and a government that are not underpinned by Theocracy. Christianity reeks with faction against faction denomination opposed to denomination, echoing the words of Christ that a ‘nation divided against itself will collapse’.
The Kingdom of God is advancing and conquering the hearts of men. God has elected the Ekklesia to legislate the laws of God and unite under one philosophy, commonwealth. As citizen’s we shall not be enslaved in all manners to a foreign government. No government can conquer a citizen of the kingdoms' mind if they are totally sold out to His will.
