“That he may withdraw man from his purpose, and hide pride from man.” (Job 33:17)
Although they walk through the earth now as “gods,” God knows how to keep Lucifer and proud men in their place. To “hide pride” from men, God withdraws them from their purposes. (Job 33:17) He doesn’t let their plans “prevail” that they “may know themselves to be but men.” (Psalm 9:19,20) Not only does He humble men of the world, He also chastens the children He loves so they might love Him and not walk in the pride of life. To keep them from self-exaltation, at times He does not answer the prayers of His choicest servants (2 Cor. 12:7).
If we would be clothed with honor and share in His glory we will learn to walk humbly with our God. We will endure chastening in order to become true partakers of His divine nature and holiness. (Heb. 12:10) We will not desire omnipotence and declare: “I will be as God!” We will be careful in our claims to ascension into heavenly realms. We will never compete with God for His throne. We will not walk presumptuously in a lifted up spirit. We will not seek to fulfill the desires of our flesh and mind under the guise of doing God service. We will be true and there will be no unrighteousness in us because we will not speak or act of ourselves and only ever seek the glory of Him who sent us (John 7:18).
If Paul needed the chastening of the Lord to keep him from the pride of life do we think such is never necessary with us? In heaven, no thorns in the flesh are necessary for the spirits of just men made perfect, but there are plenty of them needed down here where God’s perfecting work in His children is still ongoing. God’s kingdom has come where God’s will is being done, and sometimes God’s will is done where “messengers of Satan” buffet and “thorns in the flesh” remain. Better a thorn in the flesh than a fall from heaven like lightning.