Pride and an Haughty Spirit...the Wayfarer
Pride and an Haughty Spirit
Proverbs 16:18
18Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall.
Pride is found in abundance in the world about us.
It is taught from birth, as pride in familial name and accomplishment are instilled in the children of those having made some distinction among his fellow men, whether that distinction be for the good or bad of those fellow men.
National pride is instilled in the education system that touts the efforts of those building that nation in the past, and accomplishment, again good or bad.
Personal pride pushes the bodybuilder, the football player, the basketball player, etc. beyond the limits of those who have participated in whatever sport in the past.
Pride pushes the con man to become ever more cunning and ever more deceptive with each new success as he bilks his fellow man with his con.
Pride fills the hearts of those affiliated with a particularly feared gang, or cartel as they also tout the pride of their strength while continuing their business within the societies where they operate, without fear of ever facing the laws of those societies.
Pride fills the hearts of those parading in the streets for their various deviation from those laws of society, and more particularly the laws of their Creator that they so vehemently deny.
As this pride in self becomes ever more apparent, so does the boastfulness and mocking of any who would remind them of their place in creation, and their destination being created through that pride.
Pride drove the Pharisee and Sauducee alike to persecute and finally crucify a messenger sent to deliver them from the result of their pride.
As Christ hung on the cross between two malefactors, pride in self was chosen by one, as the other finally rejected that pride for the humility of repentance, receiving in return the reward of redemption that was so readily available to both.
The haughty spirit that accompanies pride denies any need for that humility, denies need for repentance and continues to allow men to damn themselves forever from receiving the eternal love offered by their Creator.
That Pride is a choice, a personal choice, and irrevocable choice once made, leading only to the destruction and suffering spoken of in the opening verse.
Jude 17-25 King James Version (KJV)
17 But, beloved, remember ye the words which were spoken before of the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ;
18 How that they told you there should be mockers in the last time, who should walk after their own ungodly lusts.
19 These be they who separate themselves, sensual, having not the Spirit.
20 But ye, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost,
21 Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life.
22 And of some have compassion, making a difference:
23 And others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire; hating even the garment spotted by the flesh.
24 Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy,
25 To the only wise God our Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen.
As those prideful reject the love offered, Jude reminds us of the duty to continue to attempt to remind them of the love that remains offered, and even to try to save by fear those in most imminent danger of the result of their Pride, their refusal to acknowledge the power that has existed from the beginning in the ONE that created them.
Christ came for the salvation of ALL willing to accept that salvation.
His sacrifice was for ALL who face the coming resurrection on His return.
I would that all would accept the simple terms offered by Him as did the malefactor that chose humility over pride.
I would that fear be instilled where none exists sufficient to remove the pride and haughty spirit that can only lead to destruction, death and damnation for an eternity.
I would that the mockers have eyes and ears opened and hearts changed rather than face eternal separation from the LOVE given us by God.
It remains choice of Pride in self, or humility in self that will make that determination, just as it did for two men hung alongside my Savior, each making their choice of destination that day.
The LOVE offered on the cross remains the LOVE offered all.
Still, whatever is chosen will be chosen by each for themselves, and cannot be made by any other.
2 Timothy 1:12
12For the which cause I also suffer these things: nevertheless I am not ashamed: for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day.
Amen and Amen
The Wayfarer
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