What does the following phrase mean, “that we may reach up unto heaven?" In what ways are people today trying to do this very thing? BIB 502-2-14-1

“And the whole earth was of one language, and of one speech. And it came to pass, as they journeyed from the east, that they found a plain in the land of Shinar; and they dwelt there.” Genesis 11:1-2
The people had been told to go forth and repopulate the earth. Instead they decided to stay put and build a tower to the heavens, more likely an astrological tower. Thus was born the practice of predicting the future based on the stars and the planets. However, I would suspect that God found this undertaking to be very arrogant and rather dismissive of Him who ”stretched out the Heavens.” Add to this, the people remained in one place rather than repopulating the earth. God wasn’t please with this disobedience and said let’s go down and confound their speech. That had the effect of scattering the people across the planet.

Fast-forward to the 20^th Century; for the past several years (decades) there’s been an encroachment by the Eastern religious movement into the United States. Rather than trying to build a spiritual tower to heaven by immersing themselves in the Word of God, many people try shortcuts. Gurus from India became commonplace in the United States as did people sitting around chanting mantras. About 25 years ago and for a very short time I had a boyfriend who was so taken by Sai Baba that he visited Sai Baba’s Ashram in India several times. More recently the Sai Baba “miracle” of creating gold teeth in people’s mouth was recycled in Florida. Also the manifesting and sprinkling of “gold” dust and throwing out orbs of light were just more stuff emanated from the East. There is truly nothing new in the New Age, it’s just pagan practices recycled.

People use chants, going within, drugs and other means of trying to elevate their consciousness to a higher plane. Currently there is a seminar leader in Phoenix training people to reach the third heaven. I find it interesting that Paul, the same Paul who spent three years being tutored by the Master, wouldn’t even speak of himself concerning his trip to the third heaven. Rather the self-effacing Paul spoke of himself in the third person. “I knew a man in Christ above fourteen years ago, (whether in the body, I cannot tell; or whether out of the body, I cannot tell: God knoweth;) such an one caught up to the third heaven. And I knew such a man, (whether in the body, or out of the body, I cannot tell: God knoweth;) How that he was caught up into paradise, and heard unspeakable words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter.” 2 Corinthians 12:2-4

I hope that God has a sense of humor; however, I rather expect him to once again come down and destroy the tower Babel.