The Creator/created order, when tampered with in any way, always results in an evil outcome.
This placing of oneself above God first began in Heaven:
He began to contemplate himself and to admire himself. Then he grew proud of himself and began to think that the place that he occupied was far too narrow for the proper, profitable and full display of the ability which he now gave himself the credit of possessing and this place was not worthy of the dignity he now gave estimate to, as it merged within him. He grew proud of his beauty, put himself in the place of his Creator - he felt that he had self-existence. It is not strange that he should follow, and even be charmed with, this false line of reasoning, now that he began to measure all things by his own perverted conceptions and to reason by only what he could see, and that in the perverted light through the gloom of his own corrupted wisdom. The confused conceptions beginning and ending in himself led to him putting himself in the place of God, and equal with Him. He saw no token that God thought of him like he thought of himself, so in his mind he seized, robbed and usurped the place due to God.
He now believed that he was working for the best interests of all, and that everyone would now be equal with the Eternal One. Self was all that there was of him, and self cannot save itself from itself. He now led angels into his twisted world of thinking. His soul thrilled with the wonderful new position that he now held. Heaven could not retain the rebellious ones any longer and they were cast to the earth.
BUT,
just as he was congratulating himself on the success of his plan for the ruin of the innocent new lives in the new garden of the newly created world - he was suddenly surprised by a turn of events that had never entered his thoughts!
Baffled, surprised - a “mystery”!
Love had intervened!
O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are His judgments, and His ways past finding out! For who hath known the mind of the Lord? or who hath been His counsellor? Or who hath first given to Him, and it shall be recompensed unto him again? For of Him, and through Him, and to Him, are all things: to whom be glory for ever. Amen. Romans 11:33-36
For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts. Isaiah 55:8,9
Once stung with “the sting of death”, like Lucifer, we can never think clearly ever again. Whoever seeks his own glory cannot receive Christ, for He is “meek and lowly in heart.” It was for this reason that the Jews could not believe on Christ, and the same difficulty in us, will prove just as fatal. “How can ye believe, which receive honour one of another?” John 5:44. In seeking their own glory, they are repeating that which caused Satan’s fall from heaven, and changed him from an anointed cherub to the prince of devils. While the professed church of Christ seeks it’s own glory, Satan can do much to further his own plans.
Only the Godhead of Love can provide the solution and only One can empty the selfishness of sin out of us and can save us from our sins. He offers His mind and His life of victories to us and He will keep us for eternity.
