Beware The Poison Of Pride

1 Corinthians 10:12 "Therefore let anyone who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall." Ecclesiastes 7:8 says that the end of a thing is better than the beginning, and the patient in spirit is better than the proud in spirit. Proverbs 16:18 warns us that pride always leads to destruction and a haughty spirit before a fall. Pride is deadly. If we allow pride to take root within us we deceive ourselves. Satan/ Lucifer is the ultimate example of the destruction of pride but we wlso see in the life of King Uzziah, a man who started off so well and was blessed mightily in many ways by The LORD and was a highly renowned king. Yet, he ended his days as an outcast excluded from God's house because of pride, arrogance and anger. See 2 Chronicles chapter 26. He reigned as king for 52 years and did many wonderful things and at first he did what was right in the eyes of The LORD ( 2 Chronicles 26:4) As long as he walked in the fear of The LORD, GOD caused him to prosper in military might, in architecture, agriculture and industry and was greatly admired for his achievements. BUT see 2 Chronicles 26:16 When he was strong he became proud and began to self destruct. Not satisfied with being a successful king he sought to grasp the role of priest which was not his calling or office. In His grace GOD rebuked him through the ordained priests. Instead of repenting however, his prideful arrogance and inflated ego caused him to flare up in anger. Leprosy then broke out on his forehead at the altar of incense. In the old covenant leprosy represented sin. Leviticus 13:42-46 tells us that leprosy of the forehead was the worst type of leprosy because it represented pride, arrogance, self will and selfish ambition. The Hebrew word for forehead is Metsach (מֵצַח) and means forehead or brow, a term used in the Scriptures to denote the physical front part of the head but also symbolically for the mind, thoughts and the will. It has to do with stubbornness, arrogance and pride (hard forehead), and also Divine marking/sealing, representing allegiance or ownership like the seal of GOD or the mark of the Beast. Names written on the forehead reveal the person's character and their allegiance of heart. The golden plate on the turban of the High Priest was engraved with the words "Holy To The LORD" Revelation 17:4-5 On the woman's forehead is written "Mystery, Babylon The Great, The Mother Of Harlots And Abominations Of The Earth." In Revelation 14:9 and 17:5 the followers of the Beast are marked on their foreheads. In Revelation 22:4 followers of The Lamb of GOD Jesus Christ have His Name upon their foreheads. Thus the significance of Uzziah being struck with leprosy on his forehead. 2 Chronicles 26:21 tells us that he remained a leper unto his death and lived as an outcast and excluded from The House of The LORD. Such a tragic ending to his life and long reign as king. Even in death his body was buried away from the family graves in relative dishonour because of the curse of leprosy which represents sin. Ecclesiastes 7:8-9 "Better is the end of a thing than its beginning, and the patient in spirit is better than the proud in spirit. Be not quick in your spirit to become angry, for anger lodges in the bosom of fools" We must all guard our hearts from the deadly poison of pride. Every day is a gift of God's grace to examine our hearts and take the opportunities given to us by GOD in His mercy and grace to repent of sin. Selah.. Shalom shalom