The downfall of Nicholas Hoogstraten reminds me of the story of the Babylonian king Nebuchadnezzar, recorded in the Book of Daniel.

Nebuchadnezzar was wicked and arrogant and built a vast empire on conquest, cruelty and oppression. God took away his royal authority and drove him away from people to live with wild animals and eat grass like cattle until he acknowledged the Most High to be sovereign over the kingdom of men.

When his sanity was restored, Nebuchadnezzar wrote: "Then I praised the Most High: I honoured and glorified Him who lives forever. Everything He does is right and all His ways are just. And those who walk in pride He is able to humble."

Hoogstraten walked in pride. He is not the only one. We have all had our share of arrogance and pride and wounded others. But there is hope. If we are truly sorry for what we have done, endeavour to right wrongs and ask God's forgiveness, He will "wipe the slate clean" and give us a new start, whatever we have done in the past. This is why, as Christians, we believe Jesus Christ died in the first place.

I shall certainly be praying for Nicholas, that he will see the error of his ways and come to know the one who changed my life and took away my greed, selfishness and desire to manipulate people for my own ends.

-Rev John Webster, Gleton Avenue, Hove