Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty
spirit before a fall.” (Prov. 16:18)
I hate it when this happens, but my editorial lesson plans for today have
taken an entirely different direction from what I had originally prepared. Sort
of like when TV stations interject “breaking news” events and the broadcast
completely changes its programming. But, don’t feel too bad for me as the
original lesson will simply be published at a later date.
Well, here’s the “breaking news” that changed the course of my thoughts and
instead, has focused them on a lesson dealing with many facets. Arrogance,
ignorance, haughtiness, pride and probably more descriptors I haven’t thought
about yet. I think I’ll leave it to you to decide which category you like best
and leave it at that.
In an interview with the New York Times, a few days ago on April 15th, the
former mayor of New York City, Michael Bloomberg, made some very interesting
statements. I should also note to you that he is also an extremely wealthy
individual. He said, “I’ve earned my place in heaven.”
He explained in the interview, that he feels that he has done enough on
earth as mayor of New York to “earn” him a spot in heaven. Now,
there’s several things about his statements to the newspaper and his “place
in heaven” assertion that pretty much “lit my fire” so to speak. Enough to
shelve the first editorial and prepare this one to replace it.
First off, without citing a multitude of scriptures, a soul’s entry into
heaven WITH GOD is based upon a little thing called “FAITH!” As in
having “faith” enough to be obedient to God’s laws. And that this
“faith” is centered, rests, in the belief in His Son to the extent that
His Gospel is followed.
Let me tell you why I bring up the topic of “faith” here.
Bloomberg prefaced his statement about his having “earned a place in heaven” by
saying “If there’s a God......” Am I the only one to see a major
conflict there? I mean, if he’s not sure of the existence of God, how can he be
sure of His Son? Wouldn’t you say that if one doubts the existence of God, thus
by extension, His Son, Jesus Christ, that it would be hard for that one to have
“faith?” Seems to be a pretty easy equation to me.
But really, “hard” isn’t the word for it. There’s another word that fits
much better. In Heb. 11:6 we read: “And without faith it is impossible to
please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and
that he rewards those who seek him.”
But, then again, he’s been the mayor of New York City and, like many a
person of high position or noble rank, no doubt sees the rules not applying to
him. That nothing is “impossible” to someone of his stature and
position. Can you see the arrogance and haughtiness oozing from this kind of
person?
Then the second thing that “fired me up,” editorially speaking, was his
belief that he’s “earned” his entry, his “place” in heaven.
It makes me wonder what he feels that he’s done to accomplish eternal life in
heaven. Especially since he would be there “with God” who he’s not
sure is there. I wonder too if he suspects there might be a Satan and a
“hell?”
This is just an opinion on my part, but I doubt that he does. My opinion
is based upon polls that have been taken regarding “heaven and hell”
and they show that many people say that they believe there’s a God, but don’t
believe there is a Satan. That Satan is just a made up story, a “boogie-man” if
you will, designed to scare people into being religious.
These polls also show that people like to think that there’s a
“heaven” IE: a “good place” but they don’t want to contemplate there
being a “bad place.” And many people also believe that if a person is a “good
person” IE: not a criminal, or at least not a “bad criminal” and that they’ve
done “good things” in life, then God, who is the “God of love” will
accept them into heaven. Does this perhaps sound like the way Mayor Bloomberg
thinks?’ My opinion - yes!
I’m hard-pressed to recall a more arrogant example of someone dictating to
God, again who he’s not sure He exists, but that “if He does” then he’s
“earned” eternal life. The word “arrogant” equals
“haughty” which is why I cited Proverbs 16:18 as a lead-in to this
lesson. I suspect that, should his arrogant and haughty way of thinking
continue until his death, he will find himself, and all others who subscribe to
this same pathway of thought, engaged in a “fall.”
You and I know that a “fall” implies a downward movement. I’ve
never seen even one scripture in the Bible regarding “heaven” as being
located “downward.” Conversely, there is a multitude saying things
like: “heaven above” and those that say that Christ and many others
“looked up” to “heaven.” (Mt. 14:19) That “fire came down from
heaven” and that Christ will “descend from heaven” at the end of
time.
On the other hand, “hell” is always seen in the Bible as being
“downward.” As in being “cast down to hell” or “brought
down” to hell. In 2Pet. 2:4 we see where the “angels” that sinned
were “cast down to hell.” Yep, old Solomon had it right when he said
that the “proud” and the “haughty” were headed for
“destruction” and a “fall.”
Reminds me of an old joke about the very rich man who, on his death bed,
ordered his family to take all his gold & money to the attic and when he
died, he’d pick it up on his way to heaven. Well, he died and when they looked
in the attic the bags of gold and money were still there. One of the family
said, “Maybe we should have put it in the basement.”
Based upon my study of God’s Word, I don’t believe that the proud and the
haughty are going to “fall” into heaven. Nor can they or anyone
“earn” their entry there. The word “earn” means to merit or
deserve to receive something. Think about it, what can we, the
“creature” do for the “Creator” that would “merit”
salvation? Answer - nothing.
“Salvation” - “eternal life” - “heaven,” whatever way you choose
to say it, is a “gift.” And we all know that a “gift” is a
“present.” Or, as often defined, an “unmerited favor.” In
other words, something bestowed on us that we can’t buy. Romans 5:17 says
that the “free gift of righteousness” is found in one location:
“Jesus Christ.” Paul amplifies that picture in the next chapter by
saying this: “For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is
eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Rom. 6:23)
In bringing my thoughts to their end today, let me leave you with one more
scripture to consider. It’s found in 1 Tim. 6:17 and reads this way in the
ESV.
“As for the rich in this present age, charge them not to be haughty,
nor to set their hopes on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, who
richly provides us with everything to enjoy.”
Ron Covey
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