Then they said, come, let us build for ourselves a city with a tower that reaches to the heavens so that we may make a name for ourselves. Genesis eleven, verse four. In the russian city of Yekaternburg stood a tower that builders promised would reach a height of more than 1450ft. When completed, it would be the tallest structure in the world at that time, taller than the 1250 foot tall Empire State Building and the 1063 foot tall Eiffel Tower. The idea for erecting such a tower was the product of the Cold War, when countries were vying for bragging rights for fame and genius. The Russians, who already had lost the race to put a man on the moon and russian leadership, wanted to do something that would catapult them into a place of renown. They thought that this tower would be just the feat to bring them the glory they desired, the icon of communist ambition and achievement. Work began on the tower in the 1980s with high expectations, but the E. Catternburg Tower was never finished. In 1991, when only half finished, the USSR fell apart. Funding ran dry, work came to a screeching halt, the project was scrapped, and the tower was abandoned. In the years that followed, thrill seekers flocked to the tower, scaling its external fire escape for the adrenaline rush. Some unlucky climbers fell to their deaths. Others committed suicide by leaping from the top. Because of this, people began referring to the E. Caterinberg Tower as the Tower of Death. On March 23, 2018, the Ekaternberg tower was finally demolished. Far from being the icon of success that russian leaders hoped it would be, the project became an embarrassing failure. When one thinks about the Ekaterenberg tower, one cannot help but remember the biblical tower of Babel, another colossal human failure prompted by the self centeredness of those wanting to make a name for themselves. It didn't work back then, and it doesn't work today. Yet, surprisingly, as the E. Caterinburg Tower once again proves, people having the advantage of being able to look back in history still haven't learned from it.

This has been your thought for the day with Steve Burkham, pastor of Community Christian Church in Stockton, California. If you have questions or comments for Pastor Steve, please send them to [email protected]. Have a great day, and we hope you'll join us tomorrow as Pastor Steve opens God's word to bring us another thought for the day.