Avoid a near-sighted life

I’ve been wearing glasses since the 5th grade. My vision had declined so slowly that I didn’t notice.

The first thing I remember after walking out of the doctor’s office with my first pair of glasses was seeing individual leaves on the trees at a distance!

In a similar way, pride can slowly creep into our life without realizing it.

Yesterday, I shared a story where King Hezekiah’s moved God’s heart with a tearful prayer. God healed the king of a terminal illness. Sometime afterward, pride crept into his heart and he boasted of his blessings with an envoy from Babylon.

God was displeased and sent Isaiah to give a message to the “near-sighted” king. Isaiah stated that all of his treasures would be carried to Babylon, his sons would be taken into exile, become eunuchs, and serve their king (Isaiah 39:6-7).

Hezekiah’s response is striking,

“This message you have given me from the Lord is good. At least there will be peace and security during my lifetime” (Isaiah 39:8, NLT).

Instead of repenting and weeping over the future ruin of his descendants (and the nation), he focused on his personal comfort!

If you fail to check your “spiritual barometer” regularly, pride can slowly creep in and cause ruin to those around you.