Pride and Insanity

Let his heart be changed from that of a man, let him be given the heart of a beast. Daniel 4:16

This verse is taken from the midst of a dream that king Nebuchadnezzar had concerning himself. The king had grown strong and the kingdom he ruled was prospering, but pride was in his heart. It is interesting that the Lord punished his pride with seven years of insanity, by taking his heart of a man and figuratively gave him the heart of a beast.

There is a parallel in today’s society. We have said that God is dead. We don’t need him. We are autonomous. This is pride parading as wisdom, but look what has happened because of it. If God does not exist then we must live in a closed system of cause and effect, making us merely beasts on the earth with no purpose or reason for our lives. Death becomes the end and no matter what you do in this life you will still cease to exist. After death it’s over, all you’ve done, all you believed go into oblivion. The insanity comes in when people who hold this worldview still live like there is a reason for it. Hence, pride has led to insanity.

May it only be for a season as in Nebuchanezzar’s case. May we eventually step out of our insanity and may understanding return to our society that we may bless the most high, and give praise and honor to Him who lives forever. In Jesus Christ there is life, there is reason, and there is purpose. We may live our abundant lives for Him, and in the end, only the Christian can legitimately cry out, “death were is your sting? Grave where is your victory?”

-Doug Eaton-