Ego

The three examples I have just given all have something in common. That common element is that man has a tendency to worship himself. Mankind has an inherent ego, a pride in what mankind is and does.

Let's think about it. Money, the first topic I covered is created by man to place some kind of value upon man's efforts. The second item

I discussed was power and influence, man seeks to be honored by other men. Thirdly, we take great pride in what we have created or accomplished in our own eyes. 

Why do they do this?  Because they seek to validate themselves. They want a justification that what they doing is right. They believe in what they call progress. In their pride, they believe that their generations accomplishments are the the greatest that have yet been. They don't want to be told that they need to improve or change themselves. And they by nature desire to gratify their own immediate wants and neglect the wants and needs of others. 

This pride is in direct conflict with becoming like God. It is the great sin, the sin that causes all other sins. In our pride we do not desire to change our characters. We do not desire to change our hearts.  We do not desire to be put through the fire. If we are humble we will take a good look at our own position and standing and see who we really are. And we will see that we are not yet where we need to be. But in pride we refuse to see the truth, and as such become rebels against God. It is impossible to have no other Gods and still have this pride. 

The visions of Daniel demonstrate that the empires that man builds of his own strength will crumble and fall. They may temporarily thrive, but invariably all things made by man are subject to decay. If we put our focus and trust in God and His truth, those things are eternal. In order for us to transcend this world, we must stop worshipping the things of this world. In order for us to gain entrance into Heaven, we must leave this world and its gods behind. That includes ego.