On Truth

One of the very best things that can happen to a person is that they get humbled by some kind of circumstance in life. Pride is something that God hates, and whenever he humbles someone it is so that they can get into a position for him to bless them, because he cannot bless anyone while they are walking in pride (Prov. 8:13). Nebuchadnezzar, the great ancient king of Babylon found out this truth the hard way: "The king spake, and said, Is not this great Babylon, that I have built for the house of the kingdom by the might of my power, and for the honour of my majesty? While the word was in the king's mouth, there fell a voice from heaven, saying, O king Nebuchadnezzar, to thee it is spoken; The kingdom is departed from thee. And they shall drive thee from men, and thy dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field: they shall make thee to eat grass as oxen, and seven times shall pass over thee, until thou know that the most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will. The same hour was the thing fulfilled upon Nebuchadnezzar: and he was driven from men, and did eat grass as oxen, and his body was wet with the dew of heaven, till his hairs were grown like eagles' feathers, and his nails like birds' claws" (Dan. 4:30-33). After seven years of being made to graze in the field like a beast, the mighty king returned to normal, and with a new understanding about who is who and what is what: "And at the end of the days I Nebuchadnezzar lifted up mine eyes unto heaven, and mine understanding returned unto me, and I blessed the most High, and I praised and honoured him that liveth for ever, whose dominion is an everlasting dominion, and his kingdom is from generation to generation: And all the inhabitants of the earth are reputed as nothing: and he doeth according to his will in the army of heaven, and among the inhabitants of the earth: and none can stay his hand, or say unto him, What doest thou? At the same time my reason returned unto me; and for the glory of my kingdom, mine honour and brightness returned unto me; and my counsellors and my lords sought unto me; and I was established in my kingdom, and excellent majesty was added unto me. Now I Nebuchadnezzar praise and extol and honour the King of heaven, all whose works are truth, and his ways judgment: and those that walk in pride he is able to abase" (Dan. 4:34-37).Nebuchadnezzar was a better man after this powerful encounter with the righteous judgment of God, and he knew that indeed the God of Daniel was and is THE God, period.

David, a man after God's own heart, also had to be humbled by God at times; and he also understood that it was very much for his good that he was: "Before I was afflicted I went astray: but now have I kept thy word... I know, O Lord, that thy judgments are right, and that thou in faithfulness hast afflicted me" (Psm. 119:67,75). It really isn't that difficult to become humble when one has been brought low in some way. The important thing, and what most people seem to fail in, is remaining humble thereafter. I've been around a lot of people who have been humbled in a lot of different ways, and as much as I hate to see people afflicted I have found that those are the times when you will see the most reality with people, and their facades taken away. Unfortunately, almost everyone who gets brought down doesn't take very long to get back to their old ways that led to their downfall. Not many people actually 'get it' when they are humbled. Many times the reaction is to 'come back stronger than ever' [in their former ways]. Big mistake. When we are humbled God is trying to tell us something, and that something is usually going to have to do with us adjusting something in the way we're doing things. God is never 'getting back' at us because we have been puffed up about something, but rather he is trying to right our ship so that it doesn't continue forward in dangerous waters and end up sinking. There are a lot of things that a person can be proud about, and there are many ways someone can be brought low; but an honest heart can judge these things for what they are and do what needs to be done about it all. The apostle Paul admonished the believers in Corinth to do just that so that they might be spared the judgments of God: "But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread, and drink of that cup. For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh damnation to himself, not discerning the Lord's body. For this cause many are weak and sickly among you, and many sleep. For if we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged" (I Cor. 11:28-31). Paul also knew and taught the people that when we are judged, it is God's goodness working on our behalf to save us: "But when we are judged, we are chastened of the Lord, that we should not be condemned with the world" (I Cor. 11:32). The bottom line is that God is love, and his love does not want us to be lost. He will do whatever it takes to put us in the position where he can both bless us here and save us eternally. Amen.