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| Event 1 - Final Signs |
| Sign#17 |
Key Text
"Pride
goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall." Proverbs
16:18
"Behold, this was the iniquity of thy sister Sodom, pride, fulness
of bread, and abundance of idleness was in her and in her daughters,
neither did she strengthen the hand of the poor and needy." Ezekiel
16:49 |
Pride and Selfishness
Prophecy: "This know also, that in the last days perilous
times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous,
boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,
Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce,
despisers of those that are good, Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of
pleasures more than lovers of God; Having a form of godliness, but denying
the power thereof: from such turn away." 2 Timothy 3:1-5
"Behold, this was the iniquity of thy sister Sodom, pride, fulness of bread,
and abundance of idleness was in her and in her daughters, neither did she strengthen
the hand of the poor and needy." Ezekiel 16:49.
God does not regard all sins as of equal magnitude; there are degrees of guilt
in His estimation, as well as in that of man; but however trifling this or that
wrong act may seem in the eyes of men, no sin is small in the sight of God. Man's
judgment is partial, imperfect; but God estimates all things as they really are.
The drunkard is despised, and is told that his sin will exclude him from heaven;
while pride, selfishness, and covetousness too often go unrebuked. But these
are sins that are especially offensive to God; for they are contrary to the benevolence
of His character, to that unselfish love which is the very atmosphere of the
unfallen universe. He who falls into some of the grosser sins may feel a sense
of his shame and poverty and his need of the grace of Christ; but pride feels
no need, and so it closes the heart against Christ, and the infinite blessings
He came to give.
If you see your sinfulness, do not wait to make yourself better. How many there
are who think they are not good enough to come to Christ. Do you expect to become
better through your own efforts? There is help for us only in God. We must not
wait for stronger persuasions, for better opportunities, or for holier tempers.
We can do nothing for ourselves. We must come to Christ just as we are.
Yield yourself to Christ without delay; He alone, by the power of His grace,
can redeem you from ruin. He alone can bring your moral and mental powers into
a state of health. Your heart may be warm with the love of God; your understanding,
clear and mature; your conscience, illuminated, quick, and pure; your will, upright
and sanctified, subject to the control of the Spirit of God. You can make yourself
what you choose. If you will now face rightabout, cease to do evil and learn
to do well, then you will be happy indeed; you will be successful in the battles
of life, and rise to glory and honor in the better life than this.
"Say unto them, As I live, saith
the Lord GOD, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked;
but that the wicked turn from his way and live: turn ye, turn
ye from your evil ways; for why will ye die, O house of Israel?" Ezekiel
33:11
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A Parable Explained: