https://odb.org/2026/06/09/glory-and-majesty
Isaiah 14:12–15 (NIV): 12 How you have fallen from heaven,
morning star, son of the dawn!
You have been cast down to the earth,
you who once laid low the nations!
13 You said in your heart,
“I will ascend to the heavens;
I will raise my throne
above the stars of God;
I will sit enthroned on the mount of assembly,
on the utmost heights of Mount Zaphon.
14 I will ascend above the tops of the clouds;
I will make myself like the Most High.”
15 But you are brought down to the realm of the dead,
to the depths of the pit.
In the prophet Isaiah’s day, the king of Babylon felt similarly about himself. Here was a king who longed to “ascend to the heavens” and “sit . . . on the mount of assembly,” where the gods were thought to reign (Isaiah 14:13). Instead, Isaiah prophesied that this king would fall (vv. 3-4), being “brought down to the realm of the dead” (v. 15) without even a tomb to be remembered by (vv. 18-19). Charles I met a similar fate. In an ironic twist, he was marched beneath the very ceiling depicting his supposed divinity before being executed outside Banqueting House in 1649.
It’s a sad fact that has repeated through time: Powerful people who claim divine glory for themselves will one day discover how human they are. For there is only one who is worthy of reigning from heaven, and all power, glory, and majesty are His alone (1 Chronicles 29:11). (Sheridan Voysey, Our Daily Bread 9th June 2026)
Throughout centuries, kings and emperors rule nations whether by birth and royal ascension or through fighting wars or political maneuvering. In ancient times, rulers fashion themselves like gods as though they are immortal although they are always aware of their mortality. They age, grow old and die but the Egyptian Pharoahs always believed they will rise again to rule in another era. Thus they bury with them treasures they may use in another time. In fact, the Chinese emperor in Xian had thousands of warriors carved out of stone (likely based on real living persons because of the unique features of each and every one of them Terracotta warriors).
The afterlife truly exists. There is life after death. Unfortunately, it will not be like the ancient kings had envisaged or imagined. The revelation was only given to John after Jesus ascended to heaven following His victory over sin and death. We now know not only the pathway to salvation and eternal life but how eternal life will look like at the end of time.
While rulers, empires and kings are one in millions (in the modern context, imcluding billionaires), we the ordinary and regular people of the world will not look at ourselves as though we are demigods. The reason is obvious – we do not enjoy the trappings of this world that privilege, wealth or power bring. For example, we can’t in our ordinary course of life even enjoy business class travel, what more first class or even private jets or yatchs. Even if we could afford the 4-fold price for that business class ticket, why do that when the 300% savings could pay for better food and lodging during our travels?
However, despite us not being demigods, we sometimes do forget our mortality. Perhaps not always, but sometimes we live as though we will live for many years to come. We know our lives are numbered. But as we do not know the number, we tend to live as though the number will be a long one. Jesus taught this very clearly in the Parable of the Rich Fool (see Luke 12:16-21). The rich farmer thought he would live for many years to come. So he tore down his old barns to build bigger barns to store his grain for years to come, not knowing that God will take his life that very night!
Live life moderately. Save up for the future, yes. For our old age, yes. But don’t forget to also spend some of our money now because the future may well end tomorrow! Besides Jesus coming again in our generation, we may be called home to be with the Lord tomorrow or even tonight. Use our remaining time wisely as we heard in one of our recent sermon from the pulpit in my local church. Serve God. Fulfil His plans and purposes for our lives. Respond to His calling. Live in the centre of His will. Help others with our time and finance as the Holy Spirit prompts. Live every day such that we will have no regrets if Jesus were to call us home today! Amen!
Ronnie's Thoughts 