Sep 22, 2011
The Conveyer Belt of Pride
Being proud is like willingly jumping on a conveyer belt headed to a dumpster shoot out of a high rise construction project in Manhattan. The descent is sharp and the landing is rough. This is what the writer of Proverbs had in mind when he said "Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall"(Prov.16:18). Except for skydivers, falling is never a pleasant experience. During the process we are actually out of control. The plummet is fast, furious, frantic and fearful-always ending in some sort of destruction.
Where does this deadly scorpion of pride lurk and how may we kill it before it stings? Again, Solomon is helpful. He informs us that "Before destruction a man's heart is haughty..." (Prov.18:12). The scorpion of pride breeds, hides and proceeds from our HEARTS! No wonder the wise man commands us to "Keep your heart with all vigilance..."(Prov.4:23). No wonder our Saviour ("the greater than Solomon") told us that ALL defilement originates in the heart (Matt.15:19,20). Guarding our inner most being is exhausting, brutal and often discouraging. But it can and must be done in the power of the Holy Spirit and in the hope of the Gospel.Christ died to make us holy and humble. The sin of our pride was punished in Him and the source of our humility was purchased by Him. Whenever we sense we're on the dangerous conveyer belt of pride, we must jump off quickly and run to the cross. There, "The blood of Jesus...cleanses us from all sin" (I John 1:7).
Precious Saviour, you who are "...gentle and lowly in heart...", make us like you in every way-holy, harmless and undefiled. In your name we pray, amen.
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