Do you remember that at the very onset of the great controversy in heaven, Satan had almost confessed his sin—that he almost redeemed his great mistake, saving himself and the fallen angels from the ruin awaiting them? But, what prevented him from doing this? A deeper look into that cause is of vital importance to you and me “upon whom the ends of the world are come” (1 Corinthians 10:11), for the same has proved the ruin of many in the history of mankind.
You recall that in heaven, before he had matured his disaffection into an open revolt, “Lucifer was convinced that he was in the wrong. He saw that ‘the Lord is righteous in all His ways, and holy in all His works’ (Psalm 145:17); that the divine statutes are just, and that he ought to acknowledge them as such before all heaven. . . . He nearly reached the decision to return, but PRIDE forbade him. It was too great a sacrifice for one who had been so highly honoured to confess that he had been in error, that his imaginings were false, and to yield to the authority which he had been working to prove unjust.” –Patriarchs and Prophets, p. 39. You see! It was pride that prevented him. Heretofore, there would have been neither sickness nor death, poverty nor hunger, disappointments nor depression, if not for that day’s exercise of pride. We want to unpack this behaviour; but before that, there is yet a question to be both asked and answered in the next paragraph.
What was Satan’s gain? He was expelled from the abode of bliss. Although he was not immediately destroyed, it was only for the purpose of placing matters on an eternal basis of security. “Had he been immediately blotted out of existence, some would have served God from fear rather than from love. The influence of the deceiver would not have been fully destroyed, nor would the spirit of rebellion have been utterly eradicated. For the good of the entire universe through ceaseless ages, he must more fully develop his principles, that his charges against the divine government might be seen in their true light by all created beings, and that the justice and mercy of God and the immutability of His law might be forever placed beyond all question.” –Patriarchs and Prophets, p. 42. The time given to him to reveal his true character is to prove to the Universe that his way of government is a disaster for everyone. He will finally be destroyed and sink into eternal oblivion.
Pride can be likened to an untamed pet, which today you nurture, and tomorrow it devours you. The tricky part of it all is that it does not appear as dangerous as it really is. To emphasize this point, we have three more ruinous examples from which an object lesson can be obtained. This will give a chance to the eye capable of seeing, to see and escape; and to the ear capable of hearing, to hear and be warned.
Pilate and Pride
Imagine how different would have been the history of Pilate had he utilised the chance given him to acknowledge Jesus as the Son of God. How pleasant would it have been to read that one of the Roman governors became a Christian as Jesus was being tried in his Tribunal. Pilate was given an opportunity, but he let it slip away, never to meet it again. But, why? Concerning him, on the day of Jesus’ trial and crucifixion, we read: “Pilate was astonished at His [Jesus’] bearing. Does this Man disregard the proceedings because He does not care to save His life? he asked himself. As he looked at Jesus, bearing insult and mockery without retaliation, he felt that He could not be as unrighteous and unjust as were the clamouring priests. Hoping to gain the truth from Him and to escape the tumult of the crowd, Pilate took Jesus aside with him, and again questioned, ‘Art Thou the King of the Jews?’
“Jesus did not directly answer this question. He knew that the Holy Spirit was striving with Pilate, and He gave him opportunity to acknowledge his conviction. ‘Sayest thou this thing of thyself,’ He asked, ‘or did others tell it thee of Me?’ That is, was it the accusations of the priests, or a desire to receive light from Christ, that prompted Pilate’s question? Pilate understood Christ’s meaning; but PRIDE arose in his heart. He would not acknowledge the conviction that pressed upon him. ‘Am I a Jew?’ he said. ‘Thine own nation and the chief priests have delivered Thee unto me: what hast Thou done?’ Pilate’s golden opportunity had passed.” –The Desire of Ages. p. 726–727
Because of pride, Pilate lost the chance of recovery and will not be among the white robed ones that will, one day, sweep through the pearly gates into the city of God.
Herod and Pride
Did you know that if not for pride, John the Baptist would not have died by beheading on that fatal day? His life might have been spared and Herod would not have plunged himself in continual remorse, robbing himself of peace. When Salome had presented her fearful request, “Herod was astonished and confounded. The riotous mirth ceased, and an ominous silence settled down upon the scene of revelry. The king was horror-stricken at the thought of taking the life of John. Yet his word was pledged, and HE WAS UNWILLING TO APPEAR FICKLE OR RASH.” – The Desire of Ages, p. 221. Imagine that! Do you recognise the pride that prevented him from doing the RIGHT, which he himself longed to do? The result was the loss of the life of one of the greatest prophets.
“Herod’s sin was ever before him. He was constantly seeking to find relief from the accusings of a guilty conscience. His confidence in John was unshaken. As he recalled his life of self-denial, his solemn, earnest appeals, his sound judgment in counsel, and then remembered how he had come to his death, Herod could find no rest. Engaged in the affairs of the state, receiving honors from men, he bore a smiling face and dignified mien, while he concealed an anxious heart, ever oppressed with the fear that a curse was upon him.” –The Desire of Ages, p. 223
Zedekiah and Pride
Zedekiah, the last king of Judah, had for a long time, persisted in denying the counsels from God, requiring him to quietly submit to the Babylonish captivity. Yet God in His mercy, and through Jeremiah the prophet, further entreated him to give heed to that divine counsel, the hearkening of which would have proved a savour of life unto life, to himself and his subjects.
“Then said Jeremiah unto Zedekiah, Thus saith the LORD, the God of hosts, the God of Israel; If thou wilt assuredly go forth unto the king of Babylon’s princes, then thy soul shall live, and this city shall not be burned with fire; and thou shalt live, and thine house: But if thou wilt not go forth to the king of Babylon’s princes, then shall this city be given into the hand of the Chaldeans, and they shall burn it with fire, and thou shalt not escape out of their hand. And Zedekiah the king said unto Jeremiah, I am afraid of the Jews that are fallen to the Chaldeans, lest they deliver me into their hand, and they mock me. But Jeremiah said, they shall not deliver thee. Obey, I beseech thee, the voice of the LORD, which I speak unto thee: so, it shall be well unto thee, and thy soul shall live.” Jeremiah 38:17–20
“Thus even to the last hour, God made plain His willingness to show mercy to those who would choose to submit to His just requirements. Had the king chosen to obey, the lives of the people might have been spared, and the city saved from conflagration; but he thought he had gone too far to retrace his steps. He was afraid of the Jews, afraid of ridicule, afraid for his life. After years of rebellion against God, Zedekiah thought it TOO HUMILIATING to say to his people, I accept the word of the Lord, as spoken through the prophet Jeremiah; I dare not venture to war against the enemy in the face of all these warnings.” –Prophets and Kings, p. 457
How did it end with Zedekiah? “The weakness of Zedekiah was a sin for which he paid a fearful penalty. The enemy swept down like a resistless avalanche and devastated the city. The Hebrew armies were beaten back in confusion. The nation was conquered. Zedekiah was taken prisoner, and his sons were slain before his eyes. The king was led away from Jerusalem a captive, his eyes were put out, and after arriving in Babylon he perished miserably.” –Prophets and Kings, p. 458–459
Because of pride, some fail to retrace their footsteps even upon full realisation of the wrongfulness of the direction they have taken. Some find it hard to express words of sincere apology for the wrong they do to their brothers and sisters. They think it is beneath their dignity to say “I am sorry, it was I who was in the wrong.” The words “forgive me” are too expensive for them to utter. They think that by so doing, their greatness will be detracted. But God’s kingdom recognises no such greatness; “The only greatness is the greatness of humility.” –The Desire of Ages, p. 650. Such do not know that those who learn the lesson of humility are much more honoured and admired, than those with a puffed-up spirit.
Pride has ever been a threat to both temporal as well as spiritual prosperity. Concerning Nebuchadnezzar, we read that “when his heart was lifted up, and his mind hardened in pride, he was deposed from his kingly throne, and they took his glory from him: And he was driven from the sons of men; and his heart was made like the beasts, and his dwelling was with the wild asses: they fed him with grass like oxen, and his body was wet with the dew of heaven; till he knew that the most high God ruled in the kingdom of men, and that He appointeth over it whomsoever He will.” Daniel 5:20–21. We thank God that he was reclaimed from his ruinous condition, and that his later end shows him acknowledging the supremacy of the God of heaven. If it finally ended well with him, he will be among the redeemed.
Remember that “What we do not overcome, will overcome us and work out our destruction.” –Steps to Christ, p. 33. Thank God that the Master Physician has stretched forth His hands, and to all who are willing He will help to remedy their defect of pride, before it leavens the whole character, before a word of eternal condemnation is spoken against them, in the same way it was spoken to Belshazzar—Nebuchadnezzar’s grandson (also called his son)—saying: “And thou his son, O Belshazzar, hast not humbled thine heart, though thou knewest all this; . . . Thou art weighed in the balances, and art found wanting.” Daniel 5:22, 27.
Amen.
By Emmanual Salamba, Malawi