The Greatness Of Humility

by Guy Jarvie, Glasgow, Scotland | Category: General | Jan 1990

The Master said, "Take My yoke upon you, and learn of Me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls" (Mat. 11:29).

The scriptures also record that "the man Moses was very meek, above all the men which were upon the face of the earth" (Num. 12:3), and, "What doth the LORD require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God? (Micah 6:8).

The first great sin began with pride, when the Day Star (Satan) sought to

be like the Most High, and to exalt his throne above the stars of God" (Is. 14:12-14). He fell never to rise again. The Lord Jesus saw Satan fallen as lightning from heaven (Luke 10:18).

Our first parents were driven from their place in Eden, and they were never restored to that place. They had listened to the voice of the tempter and, through pride, they thought they would increase in knowledge and enjoy what God had forbidden. They disobeyed the voice of God, and they fell. They left to their children a legacy of pride, and of sin and death. Only a few

reverenced God.

Satan is the god of this world, and he knows how to tempt human hearts to pride. Many live as though they had no need of the Creator. That is pride. Even we who know God can detect pride at times in our own hearts. We are not immune to temptation. "Let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall" (1 Cor. 10:12). Happy are we that we can call upon the Lord for cleansing, and for the Spirit of God to lead us into the likeness of Christ. When we yield our bodies our lives - a living sacrifice to God, then the Spirit of God can more effectively work in us (Rom. 12:1,2).

Moses, the man of God, became the meekest man in all the earth, in his day. God caused him to learn meekness when he was forty years in the wilderness caring for sheep. God was preparing His servant for the great work of leading Israel to the promised land. He walked with God's people for forty years through the great and terrible wilderness, where were fiery serpents and scorpions (Deut. 8:15). When Israel sinned with the golden calf, Moses fell down before the Lord, for forty days and nights, pleading that God would spare Israel for their fearful sin (Deut. 9:18,25). The Lord hearkened to the petition of His meek servant who was willing to give his own life to save his people. The Lord knew His servant face to face (Deut. 34:10).

"Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity... for there the LORD commanded the blessing" (Ps. 133:1,3). Dwelling together in unity is one of the blessings that comes from humility of heart. Another blessing is in fellowship with God in prayer. God, who created the heaven and earth, looks down on the poor and the contrite, and those who tremble at His word (Is. 66:2). The more we have of spiritual gift, or of natural ability, so much the more we need to have humility.

Satan is preparing his man, the man of sin - the lawless one, who will set himself forth as God (2 Thes. 2:4). Then pride will have reached its ultimate. Then the armies of the man of sin will be gathered against the Lord Jesus and His army (Rev. 19:19). The conflict' will be fearful, but it will be short.

When the conflict is over, the Lord will reign as King over all the earth (Zech. 14:9). Then the meek will inherit the earth (Mat. 5:5). Satan will be bound for a thousand years (Rev. 20:2), the earth will have its sabbatic rest from war and want, and the nations will learn war no more (Is. 2:4).

The animal creation will have peace at last. The wolf will dwell with the lamb, and the little child will lead the young lion (Is. 11:6). The ground will yield its fruit abundantly, and the desert will rejoice and blossom as the rose (Is. 35:1,2).

Let us prepare our hearts in faith and humility for that glorious day so soon to come. The Lord Himself will come, and we shall meet Him in the air. Amen, come Lord Jesus.

Guy Jarvie, Glasgow, Scotland | Jan 1990
General