To the first group, it is said, Put to death your earthly members: fornication, impurity, passion, and evil desire (Col. 3:5). To others, he cautions: Beware, brethren, that no one leads you astray through philosophy and empty deceit (Col. 2:8). Thus, God teaches us more than livestock or birds, for as we strive to comprehend our true selves, neither our carnal weaknesses can drag us down nor the spirit of pride can lift us up improperly. We neither succumb to base desires nor inflate ourselves with unrealistic aspirations. Those who are drawn down by fleshly desires are like beasts, while those who elevate themselves intellectually mimic birds.
If we diligently maintain both humility of spirit and purity of body, we will quickly discover that one fortifies and undergirds the other. Pride often gives rise to lust; while their spirit seeks to ascend, their flesh plunges into degradation. They originally uplifted themselves silently only to later publicly fall, puffed up by secret pride before being exposed through fleshly errors. In their pride, they must face righteous consequences; having elevated themselves above others, they are brought low by their lust, becoming similar to livestock. For when humanity is honored yet fails to recognize their true nature, they become like senseless creatures (Psalm 48:21). Knowledge may lift them to great heights, but as Paul observed, knowing God, they did not honor Him as God, nor did they give Him thanks, resulting in a darkening of their minds (Rom. 1:21). When they indulged in animalistic pleasures, God gave them over to their heart’s desires in impurity (Rom. 1:24). Those who exalt themselves through hollow learning often descend into animalistic desires, losing themselves for the very reasons they thought they had ascended.
Let us remain vigilant, keeping our minds watchful, cautious of pride's swelling. Our thoughts are not invisible to God; each moment of mental elevation carries consequences. God perceives what elevates our minds and allows us to fall to learn how to strengthen ourselves in humility. The suffering we experience from lust arises because the prideful thoughts first took root within us. Openly visible punishment follows unacknowledged guilt, reminding us that secret failings must ultimately manifest publicly. Hence, Hosea proclaims regarding the Israelites, The spirit of promiscuity is within them, and they have not known the Lord (Hos. 5:4). He indicates that the lustful actions stem from the sin of pride, saying, The pride of Israel shall bring them to humiliation (Hos. 5:5), revealing that hidden sins of pride are often exposed through fleshly desires. Thus our purity must be safeguarded by humility; a humble spirit kept before God ensures that the flesh will not unlawfully dominate. The spirit must recognize its rightful subjection to God; should it rise in pride against its Creator, it will inevitably become the master of the flesh it was meant to govern. This was illustrated by the first man who, upon yielding to pride, covered his form (Gen. 3:7) after his spirit offended God, soon experiencing the consequences in fleshly turmoil. By refusing obedience, he relinquished control over his body, bearing the consequences of his disorder and learning through his fall what he lost due to pride.
Let no one believe that after striving for elevation, overcoming carnal desires, that victory must be publicly demonstrated. Often, lust’s poison grows from the roots of arrogance; the flesh prevails when the spirit is internally proud. The soul began its descent into animalistic faults when it aimed too high and fell into corruption despite rising like a bird. This signifies that prolonged abstinence can suddenly lead to fall, demonstrating how innocence, even if maintained until old age, can be shattered. If the heart's humility is forsaken, the just Judge may disregard bodily purity and reveal open sin against those whom He has long suffered silently. A soul that suddenly loses a sacred good may find another evil arise within, leading to greater misfortune due to prior alienation from God, despite outward displays of righteousness. Therefore, the prideful mind begets bodily pollution, and the heart of one rejected experiences a downfall into animalistic corruption. Holy individuals, unable to indulge like beasts due to their virtuous desires, safeguard their thoughts against the allure of pride, remaining above worldly madness and keeping their lofty aspirations grounded in humility.
Thus, it is rightly stated, He teaches us more than the creatures of the earth, and instructs us more than the birds of heaven. This indicates that a person, overwhelmed by weakness and unable to recognize their superiority over beasts and birds, succumbs to adversity, lacking proper moderation in both peace and distress. In times of prosperity, they may not learn to lower themselves from their lofty thoughts nor elevate themselves from gluttony. While it was misapplied to blessed Job, it serves to remind us that humanity remains subject to base temptations and prideful aspirations. The life of man, swayed by fleshly desires, is likened to ‘beasts,’ while ‘birds’ symbolize arrogant spirits, illustrating the distinction. For when the Lord spoke of seeds falling by the roadside, He stated, the birds of the air came and devoured them (Matt. 13:4), indicating heavenly powers preying upon the earthly. Holy individuals, however, refrain from following lowly human examples and are not easily misled by the subtlety of evil; they are uplifted above both beasts and birds by divine teaching. They outstrip earthly beasts by rejecting all trivial desires, gaining insight greater than the birds of the air concerning the schemes of unholy spirits. They focus not on transient matters and rise above the celestial powers through virtuous lives lived in the frailty of the flesh. Paul recognized this truth when he remarked, ‘For many walk, of whom I told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ, whose end is destruction, whose god is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame’ (Phil. 3:18-19). He understood that while still on earth, he stood above the beasts, trampling the ways of lowly worshippers, and he held knowledge of judging angels as he approached the heavenly kingdom (1 Cor. 6:3). Thus, the minds of the holy easily disregard fleeting matters and focus on what is significant; the transient does not occupy their hearts. From this high vantage point, they perceive only the eternal truths belonging to the Creator, and they bow in humility before Him. Therefore, he asserts, Who teaches us more than earthly beasts, and instructs us more than the birds of heaven, suggesting that those overcome by fear and temptation fail to acknowledge their strength, suffering because they did not conquer the fleeting matters during tranquility. For had they conquered these trials through spiritual perfection, they would not have feared life's challenges.
THEOSIS