After reigning 72 years, King Louis XIV of France died. He called himself “the Great.” He had the most magnificent court in Europe and his body was put in a golden coffin with one candle above it to signify his greatness. Before the preacher began to speak to thousands at the memorial service, he reached down and snuffed out the candle, saying, “Only God is great.” How true this is! All other boasted greatness will pass away. God will “stain the pride of all glory, and bring into contempt all the honorable of the earth” (Isaiah 23:99The Lord of hosts hath purposed it, to stain the pride of all glory, and to bring into contempt all the honorable of the earth. (Isaiah 23:9)). Indeed, among those that are saved, “not many wise men . . . not many mighty, not many noble, are called.” Years ago, men wanted to build a tower whose top would reach unto heaven (Genesis 119Therefore is the name of it called Babel; because the Lord did there confound the language of all the earth: and from thence did the Lord scatter them abroad upon the face of all the earth. (Genesis 11:9)), but God hindered them. There were twin towers in New York City that also came down September 11, 2001. Were they not emblems of man’s greatness? Remember the king who said, “Is not this great Babylon, that I have built”? Well, that great city was soon destroyed. At one time “men of a great stature” inhabited the land of Israel, but they were all destroyed. Many people think in their hearts that they are great. Notice what Haman thought (Esther 6:66So Haman came in. And the king said unto him, What shall be done unto the man whom the king delighteth to honor? Now Haman thought in his heart, To whom would the king delight to do honor more than to myself? (Esther 6:6)): “To whom would the king delight to do honor more than to myself?” Well, he was in for a big let-down! May the Lord keep us with low thoughts of ourselves, and let “each esteem other better than themselves” (Philippians 2:33Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves. (Philippians 2:3)). Not to the great, the Lord says, but “to this man will I look, even to him that is poor and of a contrite spirit, and trembleth at My word” (Isaiah 66:22For all those things hath mine hand made, and all those things have been, saith the Lord: but to this man will I look, even to him that is poor and of a contrite spirit, and trembleth at my word. (Isaiah 66:2)).
1. What did Jeremiah have to tell Baruch about seeking “great things”?
Jeremiah 45:___
2. Why did the angel of the Lord smite Herod? Acts 12:___
3. Great authority will be given unto the beast. Why will the world worship him? Revelation 13:___
4. Whom did the Lord say would be great among His disciples?
Matthew 20:___
5. Who were the merchants of that great city Babylon? Revelation 18:___