Proud and Mighty

The following is a personal reflection of a sermon about the sin of vanity.

On vanity

Much of what I see today, even in myself, is that we spend a lot of time in introspection. We charge ahead in life with a confidence in the knowledge that we are responsible for our success or failure. We internalize thoughts like "the answer to my problem lies within me. I have to examine my strengths and channel those out in the open. My weakness is an illusion. I create the circumstances of my own success. My destiny is my own."
The above new age thinking is now prevalent because it has the appearance and feeling of truth. Although truth in this new age context is relative, isn’t it? If it’s not my truth then it isn’t true. My truth is what I say it to be. My reality is my own.
Indeed pride is the root of all the other sins. The effect of pride on others is condemnation. A proud person condemns the people around him or her. We say, "I am superior" just so we can project an outside image of strength and leadership. Then there's the "I am inferior" to solicit attention and garner pity points. Vain thoughts are what keeps people from seeking help but pride is also what gives people a sense of entitlement.
Individualism is so rooted in our culture these days that it's not a leap to start self-worship when things are right and blame everyone else when things go wrong.
Pride hardens the heart indeed and causes us to become self-righteous.
I remember reading Exodus 19 when God was preparing to hand down the Ten Commandments, "[8] Then all the people answered together and said, "All that the LORD has spoken we will do." So Moses brought back the words of the people to the LORD." Exodus 19:8 NKJV.
That statement even before the commandments were given had a sense of fullness of pride as if they can DO all that is required. And so in Exodus 20, God gave the Law and so the ministry of death began, as Paul called the Ten Commandments in 2 Corinthians 3:7.

The antidote

The unmerited gift of our Lord Jesus Christ is the antidote to pride. When as believers we arm ourselves with this truth and claim the new promise revealed in Hebrews 8:12 then our hearts of stone are melted and we are set free. Jesus has paid for my sinful pride at the cross and His resurrection made me right with my Abba, Father.
Let's shift our mind to Jesus and be occupied with His thoughts. This is the true meaning of repentance. When we change our minds that changes our actions.