To become like God

By becoming gods unto ourselves

But without the foresight, the knowledge, or the power

To choose good over evil every time

What arrogance!

To seek wisdom

By experiencing evil in ourselves

But without the will, the strength, or even the desire

To choose good over evil every time

What folly!

To seek knowledge is one thing.

To survive the knowing is another.

Evil is now an option in our search for personal glory,

And we have made ourselves enemies of God.

Whatever good we may have had

Has been swallowed up by evil

In the very act of choosing for ourselves and against our Creator

The most embarrassing thing in heaven or on earth

Is the arrogance of those who ought to be ashamed of themselves.

Sadly, this applies to all of us.

To blame others for our choices

To blame the Divine

Is the road to perdition.

To recognize our sin, our folly

To accept the responsibility even for the deception

Is the road to salvation.

What wisdom!

Now a new choice is before us,

To continue our attempts to become like God in our arrogance,

Or to become like his Son in true humility

A choice He made possible.

A choice we will need help to make and follow.

To overcome evil with His goodness

To restore what was lost.

To become what we were meant to be,

Sons and daughters of the king

To turn away now from such a great salvation

Is to embrace our arrogance for all time and into eternity.

The most beautiful thing in heaven or on earth

Is the humility of those who are ashamed of themselves.

Sadly, this does not apply to all of us.

*****