While delving into a study on pride, a dagger seemed to slowly slice its way into my soul…exposing with each cut that I was an arrogant man. Not being able to take compliments very well, not willing to sacrifice time for others, planning without God…every convicting phrase seemed to be a shard of shrapnel tearing at my spirit. It was a realization that hurt. It made me question the rationale and reasoning of everything I’ve done. Was it for God? Was it for self?
Then came Uzziah in II Chronicles 26. You remember him, right? King of Judah for 52 years. Started when he was 16! He conquered the Philistines, Ammonites, Arabians…all because he chose to seek the Lord and put him first. That was the promise that hovered over him like a halo: “as long as the king sought the Lord, God prospered him.” (II Chronicles 26:5). And his life was going great…until he lost his focus and started thinking about his fame more than God.
He became filled with so much arrogance that he went into the temple to sacrifice incense on an altar (that he had no authority to offer - II Chronicles 26:18). He was so full of himself that he thought he could do what only the priests of old were supposed to do. Over the decades of his life he went from being the humble and meek servant of God…to being self-absorbed, self-centered, and narcissistic. He grew proud to his destruction (II Chronicles 26:16). Ultimately, he died a leper…struck with that disease from God Himself.
Will it take some leprosy from the Lord to help me figure this out? Nope, just a dagger to the heart from the sharpest two edged sword (Hebrews 4:12). Thank you, Lord, again for helping me see what needs to be done.
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