A Chin Held High

(The following was published in bulletin at St Charles Bible Church – September 23rd, 2018,  St Charles MN)

Pride:  The disease that is fatal to the soul.

“The iniquity found in “the angel that covers” was pride.  Pride walks with a chin held high.  It refuses to acknowledge a power greater than itself.  It seeks glory that belongs only to God.  Pride lives as if there is nothing for which he will be held accountable. 

Pride leads to calamity. “Pride goes before destruction,” says Solomon, “and a haughty spirit before a fall” (Prov. 16:18). The fall of the proud is often ascribed in the Bible to divine judgment. The proud Persian courtier Haman was hung from the very gallows he had built for the execution of Mordecai—a man who had infuriated Haman by refusing to do obeisance. Nebuchadnezzar exulted in his own glory and was rewarded with madness. He did not return to his throne until he “learned that the Most High has sovereignty over the kingdom of mortals and gives it to whom He will” (Dan. 4:30-33).  King Sennacherib boasted of his might and defied God—and shortly thereafter was murdered by his sons.  Herod was lauded as a god, but he was struck down by an angel “because he had not given glory to God” (Acts 12:21-23).

The psalmist declared that God had placed the proud on slippery ground: even at the height of their prosperity and earthly security, they are never far from ruin (Psalm 73:4-20). Obadiah declared to Edom, “Your proud heart has deceived you, you that live in the clefts of the rock, whose dwelling is in the heights. You say in your heart, “Who will bring me down to the ground?” Though you soar aloft like the eagle, though your nest is set among the stars, from there I will bring you down, says the LORD.” (Obadiah 1:3-5).

“A day is coming,” said Isaiah, when “the haughty eyes of people shall be brought low, and the pride of everyone will be humbled.” (Isa. 2:11).  C.S. Lewis asserts that pride “is the complete anti-God state of mind.”

Pride will one day stand in front of the Great White Throne.  “The sinner, in his blindness looks, but he sees no throne, and therefore he cries, ‘I will live as I please, for there is none to call me to account, …’” (Spurgeon).  

But the Judge of all the earth will be swift in His verdict.  God’s presence on the throne of judgment is so overwhelmingly powerful that “earth and sky fled away.”  All the bravado, the bluster, and egotistical arrogance will melt like wax.  There will be no one to intercede for him.  The Anti-Christ and the beast will make room for Pride—in their eternal torment—the verdict of God’s righteous wrath.  

Pastor Jim B

 ’47 / ’56 St Charles MN

Attribute of Grace

Tim Keller says, “God sees us as we are, loves us as we are, and accepts us as we are. But by His grace, He does not leave us as we are.” Paul shares the same sentiments about grace in Titus 2:11-14 by saying grace has found us, and grace will finish its work until Jesus’s coming. So, say “NO” to ungodli­ness and worldly passions. Not out of duty but delight in the Lord’s grace. If you allow it, grace can touch your heart and transform your thoughts, words, and actions to be more like Jesus.

Paul W

  ’86 / ’03 Oxford PA