Altar Call – Opelika-Auburn News
Walter Albritton
August 9, 2020
Be Sure to Choose
the Right Coat
Christians who
boldly stand up against injustice must be sure they are properly dressed. Their
success in opposing wrongdoing will be limited if they are not “clothed” with
humility.
New Testament
writers Peter and Paul both counsel Christ followers to “clothe themselves”
with humility because “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.”
Paul, in his
Letter to the Colossians, speaks of Christian virtues as though each was a garment
to be worn, a coat perhaps. He urges his friends to “put on” kindness, humility, meekness, and “above
all, put on love.”
Humility, then, is a choice but not
the only choice. Arrogance is another coat on the rack, but one which the Bible
counsels us not to put on. In fact, Jesus repeatedly warns against pride. In
one parable Jesus describes the striking difference between a tax collector and
an arrogant Pharisee. When the Pharisee prayed, he thanked God for his
superiority over evildoers. The tax collector prayed humbly, “God, have
mercy on me, a sinner.”
Jesus explains the lesson of the
parable with these words: “I tell you, this sinner, not the Pharisee, returned
home justified before God. For those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and
those who humble themselves will be exalted.” The message is clear: God rewards the humble but
humiliates the proud.
That warning teaches us that humility is a lovely coat
while arrogance is an ugly and dangerous garment to wear. To know the grave
danger of pride we have but to read a few of Solomon’s Proverbs:
“Pride leads
to disgrace, but with humility comes wisdom” (11:2).
“Pride only breeds quarrels, but wisdom is found in
those who take advice” (13:10).
“Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit
before a fall” (16:18).
“Pride
ends in humiliation, while humility brings honor” (29:23).
It is no accident that when Peter urges us to humble
ourselves before God that he speaks immediately about our enemy, the devil.
Satan does indeed prowl around us “like a roaring lion,” and one way he “devours”
us is by tempting us to think we are superior to others. White supremacy is but
one example of how Satan has deceived some of us into ignoring Paul’s sage
advice: “Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought.”
Though some scripture may seem ambiguous to us, what
Paul says to the Romans is quite clear: “Do not be proud, but be willing to
associate with people of low position. Do not be conceited.”
Why such a strong warning from the Bible against
pride? Because arrogance is self-destructive as well as ugly. It will destroy
you; it separates you from people – and from God. Wear a pompous coat and you
will soon lose the respect of the people you thought were your friends. People
will not want to be around you because a haughty spirit is repulsive.
If we are to successfully resist and defeat the devil,
we must constantly refuse to throw the ugly cloak of arrogance around our
shoulders. When we pick out the clothes to wear each day, we must always reach
for the garment of humility and put it on. It is the dress code God has chosen
for His children.
Remember that every day as you relate to others,
sharing your opinions and doing what you do. This truth you can take to the
bank: nobody, absolutely no one, will be glad to see you if you are wearing the
obnoxious coat of arrogance. If you are wearing one now, take it off and stuff
it in the burning barrel. Don’t take it to the Salvation Army; all the folks
there have better sense than to wear it. Some of them are eating soup there
because they did not take the Bible’s warning seriously.
Speaking of taking the Bible seriously, consider the
current plight of our nation in light of what God said one day to King Solomon: “If my people, who are called by my name, will
humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their
wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their
sin and will heal their land” (2
Chronicles 7:14).
Think through what God said. He did
not expect or ask Solomon to heal the land. The healing of the land depended
upon what God’s people did. If, God says, if my people will humble
themselves and repent of their wicked ways, then God would heal their land. This
means that the solution is not in the hands of the President, or the Congress,
or the Governors; it is in our hands. We, the people, must humble ourselves,
repent and pray. To seek God’s face means that we admit that nothing matters
more than pleasing God!
It all begins with humility. The
arrogant must become humble – and then pray. If, dear reader, you are one of
God’s people, then please humble yourself and pray. Pray for forgiveness for
our wicked ways – and you know what they are. Then humbly trust God for the
healing that America needs.
If enough of us, who are God’s
people, will choose daily to put on the coat of humility, and wear it in the
midst of the evil and hatred that arrogance has bred among us, then surely God
will hear our prayers and heal our land. There is no doubt this is our best
hope for the future. + + +