Chapter 2: The Fall Before the Fall — Pride in the Heavens
Before Eve reached for the fruit,
before Adam stood by in silence,
there was another fall.
Not on earth—
but in the heavens.
The first sin wasn’t in a garden.
It was in the presence of God.
And it wasn’t lust, murder, or theft.
It was pride.
The Heart Lifted Too High
Isaiah gives us a window into that rebellion:
“You said in your heart,
‘I will ascend to the heavens;
I will raise my throne above the stars of God…
I will make myself like the Most High.’”
— Isaiah 14:13–14
This was no ordinary creature.
He was glorious.
Brilliant.
Exalted among the host.
And it wasn’t enough.
“Your heart became proud on account of your beauty,
and you corrupted your wisdom because of your splendor.”
— Ezekiel 28:17
He stopped reflecting glory.
He began to crave it.
The created being wanted the Creator’s place.
A Pattern Set in Motion
This fall happened before Adam ever drew breath.
The serpent in Eden was already a deceiver,
already set against God.
The seed of pride was planted in the heavens—
and it bore fruit in the garden.
What began as “I will ascend”
became “You will be like God.”
And humanity took the bait.
Pride is not just human.
It is ancient.
And it is always the same:
– Grasping.
– Competing.
– Distrusting God’s place and plan.
A Tale of Two Hearts
One says, “I will rise.”
The other says, “Thy will be done.”
The proud exalts itself.
The humble descends.
Lucifer lifted his heart.
Jesus lowered His.
“He humbled Himself
by becoming obedient to death—even death on a cross.”
— Philippians 2:8
Christ shows us the better way.
The opposite way.
Not the climb upward.
But the step downward.
WhY Does It Matter?
If pride began before man,
then we are not just dealing with personal flaws.
We are walking through a war already underway.
Pride isn’t just a character issue.
It’s a cosmic sickness.
It didn’t start in us,
but it lives in us—
until Christ replaces it with humility.
And only then are we free.
Reflection and Questions
Do I grasp for more than what God has given?
How do I respond when I am not noticed, praised, or obeyed?
What are the small ways I say, “I will ascend”?
How does Jesus’ humility challenge my view of success?
Where might pride be hiding beneath something that looks good?
