The Original Sin: Pride

 

What was the sin that caused satan to be dispelled from heaven?  It was his pride!  He thought, “‘I will ascend to heaven; I will raise my throne above the stars of God, and I will sit on the mount of assembly in the recesses of the north. I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will make myself like the Most High.’” (Isaiah 14:13-14).  Since that day, it is the sin of “pride” that has caused most to fall away from truly knowing and loving the Lord.

“Like the Most High”???  What was it that satan really wanted.  He wanted to escape from the authority of God.  He wanted to run his own life.  He wanted to make his own rules.  He wanted to assert his own rights.  For in his time, God was the Only Authority and everything was run through the RIGHTEOUS mind and hand of God.  There was “no freedom” to do one’s own thing. 

What did that wish and assertion bring satan?  HE WAS CAST OUT OF HEAVEN FOREVER.  There were consequences to deciding to be his own self…to make his own decisions…to run his own life…to do things his own way. 

And let’s watch satan’s first move here on the earth…created in perfection by God.  Satan immediately attaches himself to God’s perfect creation…and goes prowling about to find the very good part of that creation…man!  And the first “temptation” satan uses to get to the man (and woman)???  “…you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” (Genesis 3:5b)  The very thing that satan wanted is what he used to tempt Adam and Eve…and they succumbed to the temptation.  It’s a heady thing to be promised an opportunity to be “like God”.  Self-authority… anything goes…whatever *I* want.  When we look at our opportunity to be like God, we never look at the rest of the picture…responsible for all mankind… responsible for maintaining the universe…responsible for loving the unlovely… responsible for fulfilling a covenant when all other parties refuse to hold up their end.  Adam and Eve fell to the sin of pride.

What’s happening in our world thousands of years later?  Have we yet learned the consequences of capitulating to the sin of pride? 

We no longer have respect for authority, provoking retribution for the failures of a few on the many who have respected and fulfilled their responsibilities has authority figures.  No longer are the “criminal” or “lawbreakers” held accountable for their actions but are instead “exonerated” because someone else failed to act appropriately.

This is not to say that human authority is perfect.  It most certainly is not.  I’ve had personal experience at the hands of those who have misused their authority… authority granted them by God but instead distorted for personal purposes. 

Now we are taught “you can be anything YOU want to be” instead of being encouraged to seek for and accept graciously God’s plan for our lives.  Now we are taught that “whatever’s right for you is right for you” instead of being taught the righteousness of God that exceeds anything righteous we can do.  Now we are taught “look out for #1” instead of “love your neighbors as yourself.”

Consequencess???  A society that now demands to be allowed to do whatever they want to do…freedom to live however depraved they want to live…and an inability to understand that there IS A GOD and HE HAS STANDARDS for our “protection”.  Satan has convinced the world that God only wants to ruin your life…and many have bought into this lie.  Satan has convinced the world that “being like God” is still possible…and it’s not.  Satan has convinced the world that what “looks good” IS good for you…and it’s really just an opportunity to die to all that God had planned for you.

We have no forgiveness…we have no understanding…we have no moral compass…we have no hope!  All of those can be found only in Christ Jesus and the restoration with God that comes through His shed blood on the cross…the ONLY payment that take away the debt we owe for our sins.

I, like Paul, am the worst of sinners.  I cringe when I think of all the ways I’ve failed God during my life.  I don’t pretend to be better than any sinner.  But my joy and hope comes in knowing that I will be held in the arms of my Savior one day…the same Savior who will stand before God and say, “She’s ours!”  And a God and Savior Who can love me like that deserves my love…my honor…my respect…and my loyalty.  I will not keep silent in the midst of chaos.  I will call satan the enemy that he is…but also remember that he is DEFEATED ALREADY.  He’s growing desperate because he knows his opportunities to steal what isn’t his are coming to an end.  He has looted from God’s kingdom with the promise of riches…and comfort…and notoriety…and fame…………all empty promises that will end in eternal death and separation from God.

If you choose to continue to turn God away, He will give you what you want.  You’ve never lived completely separated from God because there has always been a remnant of believers on this earth.  But when God’s people are taken away to heaven, and you truly feel the results of your allegiance to satan and all his broken promises, you will remember that you were told the truth and given an opportunity to make things right with God and you chose to ignore the truth.

Who do YOU say Jesus is…and what are you going to do with your knowledge of Him?