The Pride of Man

 •  5 min. read  •  grade level: 11
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On October 31, 2018, Prime Minister Narendra Modi of India, leader of the Hindu-nationalist BJP party, unveiled a statue of Sardar V. Patel, on what would have been his 143rd birthday. Patel was one of India’s founding fathers, and it was the government’s wish to honor him by raising a statue to him. What made the event more than a mere tribute to a great Indian nationalist is the fact that the statue stands 597 feet high. Called the “Statue of Unity,” it is almost four times as high as the Statue of Liberty and 177 feet taller than China’s Spring Temple Buddha, previously the world’s tallest statue. The message it sent was unmistakable. Modi’s own comment was, “This statue is an answer to all those who question India’s power and might.” An excited supporter of the statue remarked, “Take note of the message we are sending out to the world with this statue; just the thought of it sends shivers down my spine.”
The reactions of others have been predictable. The Washington Post remarked that the statue “says as much about India’s global aspirations as it does about the political ego of its leader,” while the opposition Congress Party in India mocked the fact that the bronze cladding for the statue was made in China. Others of the poor bitterly complained of the cost (more than $400 million U.S.), while many in India live in dire poverty. Local farmers in the state of Gujarat, in the area where the statue was built, also protested the expropriation of their land that was necessary.
The Competition
While some in the West may also mock at what seems to be a useless display of grandeur, we must recognize that “as in water face answereth to face, so the heart of man to man” (Prov. 27:1919As in water face answereth to face, so the heart of man to man. (Proverbs 27:19)). For some years now there have been competitions to see which nation can build the tallest structure or the tallest statue. China’s Spring Temple Buddha (built in 2002) was likely built specifically to be the world’s tallest statue at that time, while the huge Burj Khalifa in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, at 2,722 feet, was certainly a matter of pride when it became the tallest building in the world in 2010. However, it will soon be eclipsed by the Jeddah tower in Saudi Arabia, scheduled to be unveiled in 2021. Likewise, even the Statue of Unity will likely be outdone in a few years by an even taller statue, which the government is planning to build off the coast of Mumbai, India.
To the believer, all this only reminds us of the tower of Babel, which was begun well over 4,000 years ago. Man’s ambition at that time was to build “a city and a tower, the top of which may reach to the heavens; and let us make ourselves a name” (Gen. 11:44And they said, Go to, let us build us a city and a tower, whose top may reach unto heaven; and let us make us a name, lest we be scattered abroad upon the face of the whole earth. (Genesis 11:4) JND). As we know, God confounded their language and scattered them, so that “they left off to build the city.” But while man was scattered, his ambitions remained; only they were now concentrated in national interest and pitted against one another.
Inventions and Technology
In these last days, we see the pride of man reaching its zenith, as various discoveries, inventions and technology lead more and more to a feeling, not only of independence of God, but ultimately of the deification of man. After the church is called home at the coming of our Lord Jesus for us, the end result will be the worship of man, in the form of the Roman beast and the Antichrist. All this will be supported by “power and signs and lying wonders,” all orchestrated by “the working of Satan” (2 Thess. 2:99Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders, (2 Thessalonians 2:9)). More than this, God Himself “shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie” (2 Thess. 2:1111And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie: (2 Thessalonians 2:11)). Men who have refused the truth will be condemned to being seduced by a lie.
Along with this, there will be an expanding of what we see already, namely, the restless activity of the nations of the world, as each seeks to vaunt itself at the expense of the others. Already we are seeing “the fig tree [Israel] and all the trees” beginning to “shoot forth” (Luke 21:29-3029And he spake to them a parable; Behold the fig tree, and all the trees; 30When they now shoot forth, ye see and know of your own selves that summer is now nigh at hand. (Luke 21:29‑30)), and we are also seeing somewhat of the “distress of nations in perplexity at the roar of the sea and rolling waves, men ready to die through fear and expectation of what is coming on the habitable earth” (Luke 21:25-2625And there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity; the sea and the waves roaring; 26Men's hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth: for the powers of heaven shall be shaken. (Luke 21:25‑26) JND). Doubtless this description is of events which will take place after the church is called home, but we are seeing the stage being set today, with warnings for man, if he will listen.
The Warning Signs
In all this there is a warning for believers as well, for we too must take care, lest our hearts be “overcharged with surfeiting, and drunkenness, and cares of this life” (Luke 21:3434And take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting, and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and so that day come upon you unawares. (Luke 21:34)). It is easy for us to be caught up in patriotism, along with the things of this world. Even the necessary “cares of this life” can cloud our view of the coming glory of Christ, if they are allowed to go beyond what is necessary for getting through this world.
Knowing where all this will end gives peace to the believer. The tower of Babel was never finished, but the day is coming when “a Stone” will be “cut out of the mountain without hands” and will break all of man’s glory in pieces (Dan. 2:4545Forasmuch as thou sawest that the stone was cut out of the mountain without hands, and that it brake in pieces the iron, the brass, the clay, the silver, and the gold; the great God hath made known to the king what shall come to pass hereafter: and the dream is certain, and the interpretation thereof sure. (Daniel 2:45)). At that time “the loftiness of man shall be bowed down, and the haughtiness of men shall be made low: and the Lord alone shall be exalted in that day” (Isa. 2:1717And the loftiness of man shall be bowed down, and the haughtiness of men shall be made low: and the Lord alone shall be exalted in that day. (Isaiah 2:17)). The “Stone” cut out of the mountain is the Lord Jesus Christ coming in glory, and when all that opposes Him has been judged, “the Stone” will become “a great mountain” and will fill “the whole earth” (Dan. 2:3535Then was the iron, the clay, the brass, the silver, and the gold, broken to pieces together, and became like the chaff of the summer threshingfloors; and the wind carried them away, that no place was found for them: and the stone that smote the image became a great mountain, and filled the whole earth. (Daniel 2:35)). For those who have been faithful to Him during His absence, there will be a reward, and especially “a crown of righteousness” for “all them also that love His appearing” (2 Tim. 4:88Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing. (2 Timothy 4:8)). By faith we can look forward to that day!
Kings shall fall down before Him,
And gold and incense bring;
All nations shall adore Him,
His praise all people sing;
Outstretched His wide dominion
O’er river, sea and shore,
Far as the eagle’s pinion
Or dove’s light wing can soar.
Little Flock Hymnbook #40 Appendix
W. J. Prost