02/12/2022
As we seek after God are we arrogant, boastful, or consider ourselves above others? Even in our faith do we look down on those we perceive to be of little faith, those who remain lost in the world, or those believers that appear to be less blessed than we are? Well God’s blessings in our life are not because of our own perfection, but come from His grace, and mercy through Jesus. Any boast we might make, or haughtiness we exhibit regarding our righteousness, goes hand in hand with all our other transgressions, it is no less founded in sin… it is the revelation that we have succumbed to the “pride of life”, and is not of God, but solely of this world.
“For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life—is not from the Father but is from the world. And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever.”
1 John 2:16-17 ESV
The final temptation of Jesus was one that sought to snare Him in pride, position, and prestige, but it failed to do so. We are tempted in this same way. Satan’s trap is set using various baits; we can be lured with financial wealth, power in the world, dominance over others, vanity, and even with the scent of our own faith. Our faith being the most egregious, and yet effective as it tempts many of faith.
“Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory. And he said to him, “All these I will give you, if you will fall down and worship me.” Then Jesus said to him, “Be gone, Satan! For it is written, “‘You shall worship the Lord your God and him only shall you serve.’””
Matthew 4:8-10 ESV
However, the first example of the “pride of life” in God’s Word comes in the Garden of Eden with the temptation of Eve. She was tempted first because the forbidden fruit smelled delicious, and this was the lust of the flesh, then because it looked beautiful which brought out the lust of the eye in her, and finally she was lured by the “pride of life” when she was tempted to become like God. This, the “pride of life” becoming the most devious, and hard to rebuff of them all… and so she ate.
“So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was to be desired to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate, and she also gave some to her husband who was with her, and he ate.”
Genesis 3:6 ESV
Yesterday I was in conversation with a man I love dearly. He is one of the most faithful, and humble, men I know, and yet his faith, which runs through all he does, is not something he flaunts. My wife has employed him to clean our house for many years, and although he works hard, and does so dependably, we love him because of his spirit, honesty, and humble demeanor. When he comes into our home it is as if a member of our family has returned, and as he works I talk to him about faith, life, family, and many other subjects of deep consequence. So yesterday we were talking about faith, and how it is a gift of God; then, out of the blue he casually said “Pride of life.” Once he had said this he went silent, then quietly said… “I don’t remember where that is [in scripture]”. Sometimes a short phrase pulled from God’s Holy Word can shatter a part of our heart that we didn’t realize was so hard, and open up a spring of living water, the Holy Spirit, that washes over us in a thrilling and mighty way. This is what happened to me yesterday when my friend spoke this simple, yet powerful, truth to me, and this caused me to delve into it.
I was amazed to find that not only is this phrase used just once in the Bible, but that it is used in the book of 1st John that I have been reading repeatedly in recent days. I have read this scripture over and over again, but it took an instant, a lightning moment of revelation with my most humble friend, to put it into context, and to illuminate in a flash the depth of this truth for me to see. The Lord had sent this incredible man into my life, on this particular day, to point out to me an incredible truth regarding spiritual pride, arrogance, and all those sins that goes with them, and he did so in three simple words… “Pride of life.” This truth is not about all life in general, but about my life, your life, and every believer’s life, and it brings tears to my eyes when I realize that it was a lesson regarding spiritual pride that had remained largely hidden from me all this time, waiting for this very special moment, and this incredibly humble teacher, to be taught with such amazing intensity, and power.
“Behold, these are but the outskirts of his ways, and how small a whisper do we hear of him! But the thunder of his power who can understand?””
Job 26:14 ESV
So I challenge each of us to read this scripture over and over again, and to apply it, not just as an academic exercise, but as a very personal, and convicting, principle to our own lives, and faiths.
Is there even a touch of the “Pride of life” within us? If so then now is the time to pray, and to ask the Lord to help us to overcome it. Just as our faith begins as a tiny mustard seed then grows into a mighty tree, so does the “Pride of life” grow into a field of sin, piecing and choking us with thorns and weeds.
Prayer:
Father, thank you for sending Angels, and messengers into our lives to deliver spiritual truths to us. Thank you for your Son Jesus who has made these truths to be manifest in His life, and your Holy Spirit that reveals their meaning to us. Help us Father to resist temptation, and to overcome even the tiniest grain of the “Pride of life” within us, and return all glory to you… keeping none for ourselves. Holy, Holy, Holy, are you our God to whom all glory and honor belongs. Praised be your name for your truths that have been spoken into us, yet are only revealed, and made known, in your perfect time. You are Merciful Lord, and send your Angels, and messengers to us at the perfect moment when we are on the cusp of sin, and prepared to fall prey to temptation. You know our hearts, and see the smallest of shadows that are cast there by our “Pride of life”. Open our eyes Lord, and illuminate all of our dark places with the light of Christ. Wash every grain of sin from us with His blood, and call us worthy in Him, allowing us to be with you for eternity… taking pride in you alone.
“He has made everything beautiful in its time. Also, he has put eternity into man’s heart, yet so that he cannot find out what God has done from the beginning to the end. I perceived that there is nothing better for them than to be joyful and to do good as long as they live; also that everyone should eat and drink and take pleasure in all his toil—this is God’s gift to man.”
Ecclesiastes 3:11-13 ESV
Rich Forbes