Deliberate Steps

Chapter 15: The Fall of Pride and the Rise of Life – A Culmination of Deliberate Steps Co-authored with Kristyn Joy Pride slithers through history like a shadow cast by a flickering flame—subtle, pervasive, and deadly. It is the spark that ignited the cosmos’ first rebellion and the ember that smolders in every human heart, threatening to consume us if unchecked. As we pen this closing chapter—our hearts entwined in faith and purpose—we, Barron, and Kristyn, invite you to stand with us at the crossroads of eternity, peering into two defining falls: Lucifer’s plunge from heaven and Nebuchadnezzar’s humbling on earth. These are not mere tales of old; they are mirrors reflecting our journey—from Route 66’s dust to Pittsburgh’s promise (Chapter 12)—and a clarion call to choose humility over pride, life over death, Christ over self. This is the culmination of our deliberate steps, a path ordered by the Spirit (Preface), and a plea for you to join us in a revival that reshapes hearts, homes, and nations for God’s glory. Lucifer’s Fall: The Birth of Pride In the beginning, before time ticked its first second, pride birthed sin in the heart of Lucifer, the morning star. Isaiah 14:12-15 unveils his descent: “How you are fallen from heaven, O Day Star, son of Dawn! … You said in your heart, ‘I will ascend to heaven; above the stars of God, I will set my throne on high … I will make myself like the Most High.’ But you are brought down to Sheol, to the depths of the pit” (ESV). Five times he declared “I will,” a symphony of self-exaltation that shattered heaven’s harmony. Ezekiel 28:17 adds, “Your heart was proud because of your beauty; you corrupted your wisdom for the sake of your splendor. I cast you to the ground” (ESV). Lucifer, adorned with wisdom and radiance, gazed into his own reflection, and saw not God’s glory but his own—a fatal flaw that marked the genesis of all rebellion. This was not a quiet misstep; it was a cosmic coup. Revelation 12:7-9 recounts the war: “Michael and his angels fought against the dragon … and the great dragon was thrown down, that ancient serpent, who is called the devil and Satan, the deceiver of the whole world” (ESV). Pride did not just stumble; it stormed heaven, dragging a third of the angels with it (Revelation 12:4). Satan’s cry—“I will be like God”—echoes still, a counterfeit ambition that can never satisfy. As we have walked our deliberate steps—from a home church in a pandemic (Preface) to a family of twelve redeemed from chaos (Chapter 12)—we’ve seen this pride resurface, not just in ancient skies but in our culture, our churches, even our own hearts. It is the root of all sin, the whisper behind “I want,” “I deserve,” “my way.” Nebuchadnezzar’s Humbling: Earthly Pride Toppled Fast forward to Babylon’s golden age, where Nebuchadnezzar, king of kings, strutted atop his empire. Daniel 4:30 captures his boast: “Is not this great Babylon, which I have built by my mighty power and for the glory of my majesty?” (ESV). His chest swelled with self-made glory—temples, walls, a kingdom unrivaled. Yet, God’s voice thundered from heaven: “O King Nebuchadnezzar, to you it is spoken: The kingdom has departed from you … until you know that the Most High rules the kingdom of men” (Daniel 4:31-32, ESV). In an instant, he was driven from his throne, grazing like a beast, hair matted, nails claw-like, humbled to the dust (Daniel 4:33). Seven years later, his sanity restored, he confessed, “Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise and extol and honor the King of heaven, for all his works are right and his ways are just; and those who walk in pride he is able to humble” (Daniel 4:37, ESV). Here is the thread that binds Lucifer to Nebuchadnezzar: pride exalts self above God, but God humbles the proud. James 4:6 declares, “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble” (ESV), a truth etched into our story. Kristyn and I have tasted this grace—from my grandfather’s bottle to Elvin’s Route 66 rescue (Chapter 12), from corporate drift to church revival (Preface). Nebuchadnezzar’s fall mirrors Satan’s, yet with a redemptive twist: where Lucifer’s pride hardened into eternal rebellion, Nebuchadnezzar’s broke into worship. This is our hope for you—not destruction, but surrender; not a fall to Sheol, but a rise to life in Christ. Pride: The Fatal Flaw Woven Through Our Steps Pride is not a distant specter; it is the opposing force behind the scenes of every chapter we have shared. In Chapter 1, we called it the “fatal flaw of commitment”—a refusal to sink to the foundation of Kingdom living, skimming the surface with part-time faith. Lucifer’s “I will” and Nebuchadnezzar’s “I have built” echo the Israelites at Kadesh-Barnea (Numbers 13-14), too proud to trust God’s promise, wandering forty years in self-reliance. In Chapter 7, we traced sin’s corruption process (Romans 1:18-32), pride twisting truth into a debased mind—Lot’s wife glancing back (Luke 17:32), my grandfather’s rants against worldly rackets (Chapter 11). Chapter 10 unveiled God’s strategic masterpiece, Jesus’ precious blood humbling Satan’s dominion (Colossians 2:15), a stark contrast to pride’s counterfeit reign. Our family’s mess—teen pregnancies, alcoholism, infidelity (Chapter 12)—was pride’s wreckage: “I deserve better,” “my way,” “I’ll fix it myself.” Yet, God’s grace abounded (Romans 5:20), redeeming Elvin’s rescue, Alveta’s prayers, and our Pittsburgh reunion with Caitlin. Pride fueled my first wife’s affairs and Kristyn’s ex-husband’s abandonment, but humility—surrendering to God’s will—birthed a blended family of twelve. As we cautioned in Chapter 14, revival’s glow can breed pride if we claim credit for God’s work. Lucifer fell for it; Nebuchadnezzar nearly did. We must not. Proverbs 16:18 warns, “Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall” (ESV)—a truth as alive today as in Eden’s shadow.