The Derision of the Proud
The fool says in his heart, “There is no God (Ps 14:1; 53:1).” This man is full of himself. He suppresses the truth of God (Rom 1:18) because he is without God, in the world (Eph 2:12). He boasts in himself and in his achievements in the world (Ps 10:3; 1 Cor 1:29). The Bible labels this man, “proud” and “arrogant.”
God resists the proud (Jas 4:6), who rages against Him and against His anointed (Ps 2:1–2). Jesus told His disciples, “If the world hates you; it hated me before it hated you (Jn 15:18).” The sons of disobedience do not seek God (Rom 3:11; Eph 2:2), nor are they able to do so, in their plight of sin.
It is the devil, who enticed man to think more highly of himself than he ought to (Gen 3; Rom 12:3). Satan tempts a person to rely upon the spiritual power of idols, which have demons lurking behind them (Rev 9:20). People give themselves over in slavery to sex, food, drink, drugs, work, leisure, materialism, etc. The great test of one’s time, afforded to the distractions of the world, will help him to examine himself.
Without the mind of Christ (1 Cor 2:16), however, a man cannot properly evaluate himself. When he hears God’s right assessment of him (Rom 1:18–32), through the preaching of the holy Scriptures (1 Cor 1:18; 2 Tim 4:2), his enmity against God is entrenched (Rom 1:30). False preachers soothe the wicked, assuring them of God’s love and acceptance of them (Universalism), just as they are, in trespasses and sins (Eph 2:1–3).
The reason preachers of truth become objects of derision, from the proud, is simple. Aligning oneself with God, who is true (Rom 3:4), positions the preacher in the camp of the commonwealth of Israel (Is 49:3; Eph 2:12).
Israel is God’s beloved people from every nation, tribe, and tongue (Is 49:1-6; Rev 5:9; 7:9). The head of Israel is Jesus Christ (Gal 6:16; Col 1:18), the Son of God, who was despised and rejected of men (Is 53:5). He suffered the false witness and testimony of liars; and He was crucified by a coalition of unjust Jews and Gentiles (Lk 24:7; Jn 19:18; Acts 2:36; 4:10; 7:52).
Jesus made the promise to all who follow Him…trouble in the world (Jn 16:33). This trouble is beyond the normal cares of life, in a fallen, sinful world. It also has the hostility of unrighteous people, inspired by filthy spirits, led by the adversary himself (Jn 8:44; 15:18–25).
Satan, the god of this world (2 Cor 4:4), is the epitome of sinful pride. He is the spirit of vain beauty and self-achievement. Even the ugly and men of failure fall prey to his deception. People follow the devil when they follow the ways of the world (Eph 2:2). They steal, kill, and destroy, under the self-delusion of their inherent goodness. The Lord God gives these over to a reprobate mind to build a taller tower and bigger city (Gen 11).
The city of man will tolerate the mute Christian, and it will endure the church’s labors to help people (social gospel). What cities and nations will not tolerate, in their hearing, is the preaching and teaching of God’s Word of truth (2 Tim 2:15; 4:2). Truth-tellers are a scourge to the pride of men. They provoke the proud to wrath. Prophets of God were killed inside and outside of Israel, during biblical times. Prophets, today, are silenced in the intolerant, liberal church. Progressive is the church of the world, led by the spirit of antichrist.
By way of illustration, Abel suffered at the pride of Cain; Noah was mocked for his labors to build the ark of salvation; Lot was compromised by the parade of pride, at Sodom; Pharaoh chased after Moses, in his pride of losing a nation of slaves; Elijah suffered the wrath of Jezebel’s embarrassment, for the Mount Carmel incident; Jeremiah was thrown into the pit, for warning the people of Israel that God’s judgment was upon them; John the Baptist was beheaded for calling out Herod’s adultery; Jesus was mocked and crucified, by those threatened with His wisdom and power; and the apostles endured the intolerant pride of Jews and Gentiles, alike.
The litany of assaults, by the proud, against the saints, has littered church history with corpses of the humble. The humble are those who put no confidence in the flesh (Phil 3:3). They boast in the Lord because they have been redeemed (Ps 34:2; 1 Cor 1:31). They know the fear of the Lord (Prv 1:7), and they are not ashamed of the Gospel of God’s grace (Rom 1:16–17).
The more light emanating from the slave of Christ (Eph 6:6, 16–20), the more he will suffer at the hands of the wicked (Jn 1:5). The more truth proclaimed by him (Gal 4:16), the greater the invitation to endure his own cross (Mt 16:24), suffering the unrighteous and their scorn.
Christian, have you been compromised by the world system? Have you returned to Egypt, to enjoy the pleasures of worldly wealth? Have you joined the ranks of the proud, who stand in direct opposition to the holy One of God? You must repent of your sins and your unholy alliance with the world.
Christian, have you invested in the kingdom of God? Have you been inspired by God’s Spirit and strengthened by God’s Word, to stand against the world, the devil, and sin? Have you joined in the affliction of Christ’s body (Col 1:24), who endures the mocking of unbelievers? Rejoice, for the day of pride is short-lived, as God judges the proud for their thoughts of self-exaltation; their words of boasting, derived from their wicked hearts that are given to deceit (Jer 17:9). Great is your salvation and innumerable are His benefits to you. Remember this, as you endure the derision of the proud.
David Norczyk
Spokane Valley, Washington
June 23, 2022
