Pride...the worst SIN ever!!
By Don Twobears
I am older, maybe too old to hold a job anymore, after all I'm over 60 years
of age and "well...I'm better off, sitting back and waiting on Social
Security...than taking a job from some young Father". That is the picture of my
life today...right? I would have to disagree. There is one part of today's
thinking, that is overlooked continually by the young, which in years past was
considered a foundation. Age. Back then...AGE was something to be revered,
something to look forward to, when the people of the world would ask the
AGED...the burning questions about success in many areas of Life. Unfortunately,
this respect of honored time, is long past and for the most part has come back
in angry tirades, or forgotten all together, see your local Nursing Home.
2 Thessalonians
2:10-12 "And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish;
because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved. And
for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a
lie: That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure
in unrighteousness." I couldn't help but wonder about today and all the people
in the world. The days would rush by and I became more and more aware that these
verses were actually being fulfilled even quicker than the days could turn. We
can read in the newspapers and on the net, that UFOs are quickly becoming the
newest sensation. We saw a period of time when the "Ghost Busters" were
sensationalizing everything concerning the paranormal and they have since fallen
into obscurity. I believe they have become obscure, because it poses the
question of the "After Life". It is rather obvious, that those who believe in
Extra-Terrestrial life would fend off time more equitably, that the Ghost
Busters, after all, who wants to discuss the dead? It seems that, to be inclined
in ghost busting, is more depressing than exhilarating. One could quickly see,
that these are "Fads" than anything else. I decided to do a bit of investigating
in this area of fads.
Come to find out, "Fads" are about fashion and their accessories, cars, where
one vacations, etc., ect., and is usually followed behind celebrity choices. It
would appear that "Fads" have nothing to do with the paranormal in any way,
whether it be Ghost Hunting or UFOs or the like. "Fads" are all about what we do
today and where and what we wear or engage in. To a lesser degree, innocuous
things. We are not endeavoring to include those, that swing to the outer reaches
of society of any "Fad". We traditionally speak of things like Bell-Bottom
pants, long dog-eared collars, muscle cars (GTO, 68 Chevy Malibu, etc.) and the
like. Ghost hunting and UFOs are strange in that, they create feelings of dread,
speak of the things we would just as soon NOT think about..."gives ya the
Heebie-Jeebies". They do indeed have their place, but considering the "State of
the World" as we see it today, so many strange events seem to be taking place
and the world is indeed worried. Therefore, the musings of yester-years young,
have fallen away and everyone is consumed with the "New Revelations" of today. I
can't say that I blame them! In the last 100 years, world events seemed to
equalize to a degree and yet, in the last 2 decades we have seem the worst
catastrophic events take place and the up-tick in sheer numbers of these events
has increased 200 fold. This is bound to catch the notice of the most stubborn
hermit.
We watched as Politics and greed, change and almost eradicate the "Middle
Class" here in America. This alone, would tell even the best Optimist, doom is
coming or something close to it. If ever there was a scenario of "Shooting
oneself in the foot" to be had, this was it! The "One Percent-ers" along with
most in Governmental Politics and Big Corporations, thought they should have the
most of everything, regardless of the outcome. In the end...it brought about the
second greatest recession since the "Great Depression" of the 30's. And to note
here, it still isn't over, by a long shot and it possibly never will be. Will
this be the legacy for our young to remember us by? It is well spoken of, in the
Bible, in Proverbs 16:18 "
Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall"! The
adjectives used here can also include Greed as well. How foul, PRIDE is?! And
yet, all one needs to do to have this Arrogance of Pride shown to them, is speak
of Jesus Christ in a public forum, of any type. What more does one need, to
examine the effects of Pride, than almost everything going on around us? Crime
is almost the greatest indicator, try Murder and theft for example. I sort of
had a feeling of what was to come, when Madonna's song "I'm a Material Girl"
first came out and then we had the saying "It's all about ME"! Jeremiah 9:23-24
"Thus saith the LORD, Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, neither let the
mighty man glory in his might, let not the rich man glory in his riches. But let
him that glorieth glory in this, that he understandeth and knoweth me, that I am
the LORD which exercise lovingkindness, judgment, and righteousness, in the
earth: for in these things I delight, saith the LORD." It is quite evident, the
world knows little to nothing about these verses!
James 1:17 "Every good
and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly
lights, who does NOT change like shifting shadows." Can you imagine, what the
world would be like, if the world took this verse to heart?! We all know when we
SIN, we also know there is a God, who is Just in every way and HE hates SIN,
therefore we must come to HIM and ask for Forgiveness of our SIN. The Problem
is, when we are so puffed up about ourselves...PRIDE...we can't understand or
even see the problem, to begin with! This is why the Bible is so unique, in
pointing to the Humility of our heart...before such a Just GOD! Because of
PRIDE, people in general don't understand why some things happen, then they
excitedly state it was "Being in the wrong place at the wrong time"! How far
from the truth, that thought could ever be!! If there ever was a SIN...so
heinous, so blinding, so vile, it is definitely PRIDE!! It makes you and I,
deceive ourselves, into thinking we are more, than we ought to think, we are
worth. At work, we like to think we are indispensable. At home we think we are
always right and everyone else is wrong and then we wonder why our children grow
up believing they are "The One and Only", when that place is reserved for the
Lord and no one else!
Romans 14:10-13 "But
why dost thou judge thy brother? or why dost thou set at nought thy brother? for
we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ. For it is written, As I
live, saith the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess
to God. So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God. Let us not
therefore judge one another any more: but judge this rather, that no man put a
stumbling block or an occasion to fall in his brother's way." I believe this
passage of verses, says it all and not only that, but it speaks of everyone
saved or not, we WILL be made accountable for everything in our lives.
Accountable for what we see and how we act, what we say and where our hearts
are, whom we love and whom we hate, absolutely everything! What is even more
unique is, everyone...KNOWS...this is true of themselves, you KNOW it in your
heart (Which is your Spirit). It's just like knowing when you SIN, of which the
majority of Pastors will NOT preach about! All to the detriment of their
congregations! And then these same churches wonder why they are NOT successful?!
"Prosperity" preached in the pulpits today, does nothing more than speak to the
PRIDE in every person sitting there, when the Bible Expressly speaks of GIVING!!
Does anyone still remember the idea..."the MONEY stays here!! It NEVER Leaves
this planet"!! The Bible continually speaks of the Father...GOD...as SPIRIT!! If
that is the case, what has MONEY to do with HIM?! NOTHING!! The bottom line for
us, is to understand that the Lord looks at the "Content of our Hearts" NOT the
content of our wallets! Big Fancy Church Buildings and how wonderfully
upholstered the pews are, mean nothing to the Lord! These things may even be a
hindrance to someone that has no money, even for the offering plates! How
odd...the Bible speaks of humility before the Lord...so what does man do, builds
lavish churches and then says this is a sign from God! "Prosperity is NOT
humility"!! Just like wearing $1000.00 suits and dresses makes you look down on
a someone that is filthy, cold and hungry and needs help!! I tell you what, you
decide which side of the fence you want the Lord to find you on!
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