The Holy Spirit inspired Paul to write down some of the signs of what people we be like in the last days before Christ’s return to earth.
But realize this, that in the last days difficult times will come. 2 For men will be lovers of self, lovers of money, boastful, arrogant, revilers, disobedient to parents, ungrateful, unholy, 3 unloving, irreconcilable, malicious gossips, without self-control, brutal, haters of good, 4 treacherous, reckless, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, 5 holding to a form of godliness, although they have denied its power; Avoid such men as these. 2 Timothy 3:1–5 (NASB95)
What made Hitler and Napoleon attack Russia despite all sound wisdom and advice to the contrary? What is behind Satan’s thinking that he can 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, forgetting that they would not exist without the continued sustaining influence of the Creator.
He existed before anything else, and he holds all creation together. Colossians 1:17 (NLT)
They try to control their environment, including other people. This is what is behind what some call the Babel principle of ever increasing government control.
Never for a moment do ungodly people suspect that they are actually being led into a deadly trap by someone who is incredibly clever, but insane – Satan.
Satan lacks any trace of wisdom or good judgment. This will lead to his ultimate defeat, just as Hitler’s and Napoleon’s lack of judgment destroyed them.
The arrogance of evil people relentlessly pushes them to go too far, so that their entire evil plan collapses under its own weight.
Evil never anticipates God’s incredible creativity and wisdom until it has been defeated by it.
Satan tried to displace God and was defeated. Now he wants to drag foolish people with him into the lake of fire.
He is working feverishly to lead the world into a gigantic revolt against God. Like lemmings, people who lack wisdom will be willing to march in lockstep off the cliff in pursuit of a doomed quest to be like God.
The Lord will eventually lose patience and at last 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)
We dare not be among that number.
The Antidote
Here is a simple five-step plan to neutralize the poison of toxic arrogance.
- 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.
- The next very important step is to surrender our lives to Jesus, the only one wise enough to direct our paths. (Proverbs 3:5-6)
- Ask God for his wisdom, and he will give it to you. (James 1:5)
- Pray for a love of the truth that will allow you to navigate the perils of the deception during the Last Days
- Finally, trust Jesus completely. He is the Way, the Truth, and the Life. (John 14:6)
