If you want to see the final effects of pride in a man’s life, look at him when he reaches what we consider old age.
“In the day when the keepers of the house shall tremble, and the strong men shall bow themselves, and the grinders cease because they are few, and those that look out of the windows be darkened,” (Eccl. 12:3)
How that man handles the assistance he needs, or if he will even accept any assistance, his demeanor or attitude when others mention the age he has attained to, the way he speaks of the younger generation as a whole. These are the some of the outward visible signs.
Anger flows within his veins, a hatred of the days that now are, and a continual longing for that which once was that will never return. The sunset of life is clearly visible and going down fast, and he relishes in its approach, at least in part, for it will mean release from this prison of age and all that comes with it.
Many become angry old men who are able to hide that anger in certain company, the last of pride in a sense is their vanity in offering their great age to those who think they themselves are older than him. That anger of course is mixed with great sadness, even despair, and much of their thoughts formulate around, “I wish I would have.”
“Cast me not off in the time of old age; forsake me not when my strength faileth.” (Psalm 71:9)
Every man of God will have all these thoughts and more if the Almighty allows the truth of Psalm 90:10 to come into his life.
“The days of our years are threescore years and ten; and if by reason of strength they be fourscore years, yet is their strength labour and sorrow; for it is soon cut off, and we fly away.”
And then that man of God will consider the eternal promise of Psalm 16:11.
“Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore.”
If you are of this age and serve the Lord Jesus Christ to the glory of God, you fully understand this letter and the truths it reveals, if you are yet, shall we say, relatively young, I pray the Lord will reveal its truths to you, and, at least in this regard, how the battle of pride will be altered, but never removed, from your life if He allows you to age.
For now, if you are young and healthy, it may take many hours of the day before your strength fails, and then it is rarely to the point of complete exhaustion. Your towers do not shake, you see clearly all you desire to look at, and pride at times has a firm grip on you because of your youthful exuberance and strength. Here, if you do not give thanks for that strength and clarity of mind, the Almighty may offer you pain, just to remind you that even in youth, you are but dust.
“For there is no respect of persons with God.” (Romans 2:11)
I speak in no disrespectful way here, but no young person could reveal these truths to you, no beautiful young woman could offer to anyone the truth of the ravages of time. And only those who trust in the grace and mercy of the Living God can contemplate as truth the words written here.
I offer the inverse once again of the words the world has given in this regard.
“Only those who are heavenly minded are of any earthly good.”
We who have been born-again prepare our hearts daily to serve the Most High in whatever manner He has chosen for us, we do not give much thought to how He will use us for His glory when we become old if today we are young, and we do not spend our days desiring and pining away for those days when we are old.
Pride, my friends, is one of our greatest enemies throughout the entirety of our lives, strength in youth or frailty in old age, the battle against it will not end until we die.
“By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name.” (Heb. 13:15)
Where you are today is where the Lord wants you to be, give Him the glory in your strength, as well as when it begins to fail.
