Signs of the Last Days: Arrogance

What made Hitler and Napoleon attack Russia despite all sound wisdom and advice to the contrary? What was behind Satan’s thinking that he could defeat God? What motivates atheists to deny God’s existence, in spite of overwhelming evidence to the contrary? One word – arrogance.

"The arrogance of your heart has deceived you... Obadiah 1:3 (NASB)

When we choose to spurn God and his wisdom and try to navigate life independently, God gives us over to darkness and deception, making us incapable of good judgment.

Yes, they knew God, but they wouldn’t worship him as God or even give him thanks. And they began to think up foolish ideas of what God was like. As a result, their minds became dark and confused. Romans 1:21 (NLT)

Those who reject God, arrogantly assume that they have the intelligence and ability to guide their own destinies. They desire to control their environment and, ultimately, other people. This is what is behind what some call the Babel principle of ever increasing government control.

Then they said, “Come, let’s build a great city for ourselves with a tower that reaches into the sky. This will make us famous and keep us from being scattered all over the world.” Genesis 11:4 (NLT)

Never for a moment do ungodly people suspect that they are actually being led into a deadly trap by someone who is insane.

Satan is stunningly clever but not wise, and masterfully deceptive, but without good judgment.

The arrogance of evil people relentlessly pushes them to go too far, so that their entire plan collapses.

They never foresee God’s amazing creative wisdom until they have been defeated by it.

Satan tried to displace God and was defeated, and now he wants to drag as many fools (those who say there is no God – Psalm 14:1) with him into the lake of fire as he can.

He is working feverishly to lead the nations into a gigantic revolt against God. The lemmings are preparing to march in lockstep off the cliff as you read this article. God will only put up with this arrogant folly for so long. Finally he will “put his foot down.”

“Then the King will turn to those on the left and say, ‘Away with you, you cursed ones, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his demons. Matthew 25:41 (NLT)

The Antidote

Here is a simple five-step plan to neutralize the poison of toxic arrogance.

First, there is only one cure for the deception of arrogance. It is summed up in one word – repentance, which means to change the mind. We must humbly admit that we have been arrogant fools and ask God’s forgiveness.
Second, the next very important step is to surrender our lives to Jesus, the only one wise enough to direct our paths.

Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. ⁶ In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths. Proverbs 3:5-6 (ESV)

Third, ask God for his wisdom, and he will give it to you. (James 1:5)
Fourth, pray for a love of the truth that will allow you to navigate the perils of the deception that will come upon humanity in general in the Last Days.

Then that lawless one will be revealed whom the Lord will slay with the breath of His mouth and bring to an end by the appearance of His coming; ⁹ that is, the one whose coming is in accord with the activity of Satan, with all power and signs and false wonders, ¹⁰ and with all the deception of wickedness for those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth so as to be saved. ¹¹ For this reason God will send upon them a deluding influence so that they will believe what is false, ¹² in order that they all may be judged who did not believe the truth, but took pleasure in wickedness. 2 Thessalonians 2:8-12 (NASB)