World's Largest Pyramid

Sometime around the 200 BC, construction began on a massive pyramid in what is now the state of Pueblo in highland Mexico. It was built with the snow topped Popocatépetl volcano as its backdrop and was dedicated to the deity Quetzalcoatl. The base of the pyramid, known as the Great Pyramid of Cholula, was greater than that of the Great Egyptian Pyramid and has been called by some to be the largest ancient pyramid ever constructed. Over the years, the original pyramid was either built upon or neglected by various conquering people groups. By the time the Spaniards conquered the area, the Pyramid of Cholula was so neglected and covered with vegetation that it was believed to simply be a natural hill.

Today, on top of the ancient pyramid sits the Nuestro Senora de los Remedios (Church of our Lady of Remedies). Visitors from all around the world come to the small city of Cholula to see the largest pyramid ever constructed, climb its steps, explore it tunnels, and visit the church building at its summit. It is truly a wonder to behold.

As I now view the pictures of the Great Pyramid of Cholula, however, my mind is not drawn to the ancient Mayan or Toltec people, although they certain did achieve much in their civilizations. What I actually think about is another ancient structure, the Tower of Babel, described in Genesis chapter 11:

At one time the whole earth had the same language and vocabulary. As people migrated from the east, they found a valley in the land of Shinar and settled there. They said to each other, “Come, let us make oven-fired bricks.” They had brick for stone and asphalt for mortar. And they said, “Come, let us build ourselves a city and a tower with its top in the sky. Let us make a name for ourselves; otherwise, we will be scattered over the face of the whole earth.”

Then the Lord came down to look over the city and the tower that the men were building. The Lord said, “If, as one people all having the same language, they have begun to do this, then nothing they plan to do will be impossible for them. Come, let Us go and confuse their language so that they will not understand one another’s speech.” So the Lord scattered them from there over the face of the whole earth and they stopped building the city. Therefore its name is called Babylon, for there the Lord confused the language of the whole earth, and from there the Lord scattered them over the face of the whole earth.

Hopefully, sometime in my life, I will have the chance to visit the Pyramid of Cholula and the Nuestro de los Remedios. To me, it is a monument that communicates to the world that no matter what man achieves that it will eventually be nothing more than a footstool to the glory of the Lord. Every structure, every achievement, every performance, every talent, every known thing is subject to Him.

The apostle Paul wrote the following words to the Philippians:

He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death-even to death on a cross. For this reason God also highly exalted Him and gave Him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow-of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth and every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Jesus, You are Lord of all things! We give You glory and declare that everything and everyone is subject to You.