What began as truth is now a lie.

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“Image building may begin with what is true but enhances that truth until it is a lie.” -Beth Moore

That sentence stuck out at me. We never start purposely telling a lie, I always start with the right foot forward. But then you receive applause, or recognition, so you take it even further. And then you receive more recognition, or praise. Until you puff yourself up to someone you really are not, now you have an image to live up to.

I am reading a book about Hezekiah right now. The same thing happens to him and it leads to his demise. After the Lord healed him from death, the Lord made the sun go backwards instead of forwards for Hezekiah as a sign, still Hezekiah went off on the wrong track. Hezekiah received praise for how well his kingdom was doing, how they were prosperous while all the kingdoms around him were suffering. When Hezekiah received this praise it was “I” did this, “I” have this, “I” built this. Hezekiah did not get praise to the one true God who blessed him with all the things around him. Pride. It is an ugly thing. Hezekiah built an image of himself, he did not allow God be the image people see.

I know I am guilty of this a few times in my life. It shames me. Because I know anything anyone sees in me that is good, is ALL God. I have already shown in my life I can make a royal mess of things. And occasionally I still do.

Pride sneaks in so smoothly, you are not even aware it is happening until you are “working” on maintaining the image you built. It becomes more and more difficult to maintain it.

So how do we obtain a sense of significance?

I Peter 5:6: Humble yourself.

Good thoughts to meditate on.


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8 thoughts on “What began as truth is now a lie.”

  1. It is amazing the way pride creeps in to the most innocent of intentions. This is such a good post. I know I struggle with pride and having a true humility.

  2. You know Laurel – this is my biggest hang-up – Pride! I had asked God to take care of the issue, and He is working in me on this. Sometimes it still shows its ugly head, but it is getting better..
    Thank you for sharing those wonderful thoughts.

  4. Here from the BC Carnival. I needed this post today. Thank you!

    Next week the Carnival of Blogging Chicks will be hosted at CoolAdzine. The theme will be HOLIDAYS MADE EASIER. Please send your submission to Eileen aka CyberCelt here: cybercelt [at] cooladz [dot] com

  5. In her study on Daniel, Beth talks about our self-images. She compares self-image to the image in chapter 3 that Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego refused to bow down to and how we construct images of ourselves to glorify ourselves. This prompted some really interesting discussion with the younger ladies in our study group. A real eye-opener! Thank you for calling it to mind for me.

  7. We had a young artist come make a plea for “financing” so he could attend a christian artists symposium somewhere in Europe. He said something that has stayed in my mind like glue.

    He told us not to praise him for his art, because man wasn’t made to receive praise but to give praise… To God.

    Makes me think how the Hollywood crowd thinks up all sorts of awards to heap praise on themselves, and how most of them have sunk so low in arrogance.

    Good post!