“For behold, the day is coming, burning like a furnace; and all the arrogant and every evildoer will be chaff; and the day that is coming will set them ablaze.” (Malachi 4:1)
The apostle Paul wrote that the kindness of God leads a person to repentance, but those who are unrepentant are storing up wrath for themselves “in the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God” (Romans 2:4–11). Why do some people have a hard time putting away their sin and then turning to God? The apostle James paraphrases when he says, “God is opposed to the proud, but gives grace to the humble” (Psalm 138:6; Proverbs 3:34; James 4:6).
In 2 Timothy 3 we read that in the last days the times will be difficult, and then Paul gives 19 reasons why. The very first reason listed is, “men will be lovers of self.” (2 Timothy 3:1–5). In other words, men will feel deep pleasure or satisfaction as a result of one’s own achievements, qualities, or possessions; they will have or show a high or excessively high opinion of oneself or one’s importance.
Pride! As a result of all these things Paul says these people are “always learning and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth” (2 Timothy 3:7). So then, one of the inhibitors to accepting the truth of the gospel of God is pride (compare with Zephaniah 2:3; Matthew 18:3–4; 1 Peter 2:1–3). In Proverbs 16:18 it says that pride and haughtiness precede a person’s destruction and stumbling.
In the day of the Lord[1], the pride of men will not save them from the wrath of God. Jesus tried to warn as many people as He could during His ministry on earth, and through the writings of His apostles. The Holy Spirit continues to convict people of sin, righteousness, and judgment (John 16:8). For those who do not put away their pride, repent of their own sin, and then receive the righteousness of Jesus Christ; the only thing left is to spend eternity in eternal punishment.[2]
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SUMMARY • God opposes, resists, is hostile toward proud people
• In the last days men will love themselves more than they love God
• Those who do not put away their pride will not enter God’s kingdom
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FOOTNOTES
Day of the Lord, Ezekiel 30:3; Joel 1:15; 2:31; Amos 5:18-20; Acts 2:20; 2 Peter 3:10. ↑
Eternal punishment, Daniel 12:2; Matthew 25:41,46; 2 Thessalonians 1:8,9. ↑
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RBG Devotional 9–5: The Proud: Destined To Destruction Unless otherwise noted, Scripture quotations taken from the New American Standard Bible® (NASB), Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. www.Lockman.org. 22-Jun-21, 13:52 |