Eaten by Worms

However, can you imagine going to a banquet / a fancy party.

The star, the center of attention is wearing their fanciest clothes.

…and all of a sudden the people start to chant, “you are not an ordinary human being - you are a god”.

But instead of telling the people to stop saying such nonsense, after they are simply human, they are certainly not a god; but instead of saying that they raise your hands and cup their hand to their ear inviting even more praise and worship from the people.

But then, all of a sudden they drop to the ground in agony only to die a few days later.

This is exactly what happened to a certain ruler in the Bible.

Hechos de los Apóstoles 12:21–23 NIV

21 On the appointed day Herod, wearing his royal robes, sat on his throne and delivered a public address to the people. 22 They shouted, “This is the voice of a god, not of a man.” 23 Immediately, because Herod did not give praise to God, an angel of the Lord struck him down, and he was eaten by worms and died.

On this day, Herod held a grand banquet.

He wore one of his fanciest and flashiest robes. A Jewish historian tells us that it was a silver robe that reflected the light of the son.

…as he went out to his people, they all started to cry out in one voice - voice of a god, not of a man.

You would think that Herod would say, “thank you, I appreciate your love, your attention, your presence at my banquet, but please…let’s not let this get out of control - I am most definitely not a god.”

But instead of doing this and redirecting the glory and praise back to the only one and true God…he really thought of himself, in that very moment, and saw himself as a god.

He really deceived himself thinking he was a god.

He really thought he was divine.

He really thought he had all power, all authority, all knowledge.

But God immediately intervened and struck him down such that within five days Herod would die eaten by worms.

Herod may have been the ruler of Judea.

Certainly he had many positive qualities.

After all, he was in charge of a large territory on behalf of the roman empire.

However, in this moment he became the most foolish of men - because he, the creature, did not give praise and glory to the creator.

I doubt that many of us work with people that think they are a god.

If we are with our friends or coworkers…and ask, “please raise your hand if you think your are a god”…they would immediately laugh at us.

However, it is possible to commit the same sin that Herod committed…when we do not give all glory and honor to the only true God - the Father, his only son Jesus Christ, and his Holy Spirit who dwells in all those that believe in Jesus Christ.

What can we do, in our daily lives, to give God the glory in all things, instead of us receiving the glory that belongs only to God?

Giving God thanks in all things.

Recognizing God publicly for all that he has done in and through us.

We will receive many crowns in this life, but just imagine laying those crowns at the feet of the Lord Jesus Christ who is worthy of all glory and praise.