HEAVEN’S HONOR

 

“I” is at the heart of sin—s-“I”-n. The first sin was in eternity where a celestial being named Lucifer became enamored with himself:

“How you are fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning!  How you are cut down to the ground, You who weakened the  nations! For you have said in your heart: ‘I will ascend into  heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God; I will also sit  on the mount of the congregation On the farthest sides of the  north; I will ascend above the heights of the clouds, I will be like  the Most High.’ Yet you shall be brought down to Sheol, To the  lowest depths of the Pit.”  (Isaiah‬ ‭14‬:‭12‬-‭15‬‬ NKJV). 

Five times we hear him say, “I will” concluding with, “I will be like the Most High,” and in that moment an angel of light became the prince of darkness. 

The first sin on earth was when the Serpent enticed Eve similarly to eat the forbidden fruit, “and you will be like God,” (Gen. 3:5). As Eve ate and shared with Adam, humanity fell into the pit of pride and the fall was catastrophic. That virus of vanity has infected all their offspring.

In John 5, we find the Lord Jesus confronted by the spawn of Satan—the Pharisees. They claimed to be children of Abraham and thus children  of God, but Jesus would later say, “You are of your father the devil…” (John 8:44).  Egotism was the motivation for their religiosity. They did not seek the honor from God that comes from seeking to honor God, but lusted for the honor of other men. 

These were in many ways orthodox in their belief and faithful—even fervent—in their teaching. Yet, they did not serve God for His glory, but for their own. Jesus said they were devoid of God’s love. They did not love others, for their hearts were consumed with self-love. 

Preachers are not immune from this peril. Seeking the honor of man can be like a drug addiction. The first dose of recognition brings brief euphoria, and then we want more and it takes increasing injections of celebrity to bring the sensation back. 

We love a pat on the back—a place on the platform—a position of power. The celebrity preacher is birthed when he basks in the celebration from other men.  It is such a subtle and sinister seduction. 

May God guard our hearts!  May the Spirit of God consume us with a desire to honor God!  I have written a prayer in my Bible from A. W. Tozer. Out of that I have starred and circled one particular sentence: “If in Thy permissive providence honor should come to me from Thy church, let me not forget in that hour that I am unworthy of the least of Thy mercies, and that if men knew me as I know myself they would withhold their honors or bestow them on others more worthy to receive them,”

If we are to receive honor, let it be from honoring God, and receive it not on earth, but in eternity. Humble yourself and seek God’s glory alone. Then, you will not be deflated when you  are criticized, nor inflated when you are celebrated. Trust in Jesus who promised, “If anyone serves Me, let him follow Me; and where I am, there My servant will be also. If anyone serves Me, him My Father will honor.” (John‬ ‭12‬:‭26‬‬). 

Serve the Savior rather than serving yourself. Concentrate on following Him instead of gathering your own following. Look to the acclaim of eternity and not the adulation of earth.

I preach to myself, and hope that if you listen these words will help you, also.