They remembered that God was their Rock, that God Most High was their Redeemer.  Psalm 78:35

One day, before Earth was inhabited, a sinister rebellion unfolded in the unseen realm. Satan, highly exalted among the angels, decided that what he had been given was not enough. He wanted more. He wanted higher. He wanted the throne. “I will ascend to heaven and place my throne above the highest stars… I will be above the clouds, just like [El Elyon] God Most High.” Isaiah 14:13–14. With this twisted ambition, everything beautiful in him became corrupted.

We must make a distinction between wanting to be like God and wanting to dethrone God most high from His place of authority. This was the subject of John Milton’s famous confrontation in Paradise Lost.  It was clear that Satan’s ambition was to overthrow God, not emulate His holiness.

There is an important distinction between wanting to be like God and wanting to dethrone God Most High. Scripture calls me to imitate God but Satan wanted something entirely different. His ambition was not resemblance but rivalry. John Milton captured this in Paradise Lost.

The price for setting ourselves equal to El Elyon is devastating. It was catastrophic for Satan, who lost his position in heaven, was judged, and then permanently expelled.  His ultimate end will be in hell, the place God created for him and all of the angels who defected with him.  

That same spirit of pride is still on full display. It refuses to bow. It exalts self, takes credit, and resents deference.  When they hear people pray to thank God for divine provision, they are quick to say that they’ve made their own way through hard work and ingenuity.  Gratitude is always difficult when we believe we are self-made.

God is patient, giving His creation time to repent but grace has a time limit.  One day, each of us will face Jesus and will bow down.  It’s a certainty.  For every person who didn’t do it willingly on earth, their end will be a tragic one.

This morning, I find myself wanting to lift my hands and realign my heart. I lay down the need to control, to take credit, and to protect my own importance. I do want to be like God Most High, but only as His beloved child, never as His rival. 

Therefore, be imitators of God, as beloved children.  Ephesians 5:11