“But it Looks so Real…”
Filed Under :
The Bible/Scripture Memorization
by Dakota
Sunday, April 3, 2011“For many deceivers are entered into the world, who confess not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh. This is a deceiver and an antichrist.”
-II John 1:7
I recently attended a homeschool expo that comes to our area every year, and one of the most intriguing classes I attended throughout the course of our trip was given by a former police officer and Army veteran. Though the class was aimed primarily at illustrating how to “put on the whole armor of God” (Ephesians 6:11), he did find time in his hour to share with us how difficult it was, even as a police officer, to distinguish between counterfeit money and the real thing. He said that one time he finally decided just to ask the people at the Treasury Department how they can tell the difference when both look so similar, and was amazed by their simple response: “We just study the original.” The truth is, even though they often look completely authentic, when you’ve spent hours and hours studying the real thing you’re not going to be fooled by a counterfeit very easily.
The same is true in our walk with God. As John reminded us in his second epistle, “many deceivers are entered into the world” and it’s absolutely necessary that we learn how to “discern between the righteous and the wicked” (Malachi 3:18). In the same way that a piece of currency is paralleled with the original to test its authenticity, so we must compare whatever we hear with the doctrine of Christ and see if it lines up to the Holy Scriptures (II John 1:9). Of course we may not always have the opportunity to flip through the pages of the Bible looking for an answer, and that’s why we are reminded time and time again of the importance of hiding the Word of God in our hearts (Joshua 1:8; Deuteronomy 6:6). If it lines up with what God has said, you can take it to the bank every time.
“Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the Word of Truth.”
- 2 Timothy 2:15
In a world where there seem to be more counterfeits than true believers, it’s more important now than ever before that we know how to tell which is which. The Word of God gives us those answers, and all we have to do is bring “into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ.” (II Corinthians 10:5) Of course, I’ve always been told that another way to identify a counterfeit bill is by holding it up to the light, but I’ll save that for another post.
15 comments:
wow. wow. hit the spot. Thank you brother!
This was soooo good for me to read tonight...thank you so much for sharing.
Resting in His arms,
Melanie
I've been thinking quite a bit lately on the power of counterfeit. Islam is certainly not the only couterfeit in the world, though it gets the most attention. There are many counterfeit churches out there where many well-meaning people go each week and they aren't measuring their church by the Word of God or they'd be changing churches. Good post. Funny; my verification word is 'ovens'.
Very true! We as Chistains have to show the people who are using the counterfeit churches and stuff, that they are counterfeit.
Your brother in Chist,
Grant
Wow what a blessing to see your love for Christ and the talent He has given you! Just came across your blog excellent devotional. God bless you!
How true, thanks for sharing.
I needed to read this!
In HIS service,
Rebecca
In Jeremiah's day the people of God assumed they were OK and not as bad as the pagans around them.
When God sent Jeremiah to tell them otherwise they rejected this lone prophet as a troublemaker against God and his people Israel.
I think it was Paul and the Apostles who were accused of turning the world upside down.
Where are the trouble makers today ?Why have the men of God become so feminized and neutered.
Where is the abrasive salt ?
There is so much non offensive sugar out there today.
Today a majority of Christians only know how to compromise with evil and tolerate it.
It's easy to spot the counterfeits ,they love the world and imitate it.
Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.
For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.
1 John 2:15-16
Amen! I've actually heard that before about how they study the real bills to know the fake ones. So interesting!
This is such a good post... there really are so many counterfeit Christians out there, sadly and unfortunately, so it's extremely important to be discerning and wise when seeing what is true and what is false.
Thanks for the post Dakota! Oh and I really enjoyed your ending... what a suspenseful way to end, hehe! ;)
Praise the Lord Bro. Dakota! I have been blessed, thanks for sharing your blog. Thank you for supporting my blog, I look forward to more of your Christian Devotional. God is good, all the time!
WOW I love this post and its reminder to study the original. That is one line I will carry in my heart for a long time. Thanks for sharing.
thanks for joining my blog community! this is a great devotional blog you have. great insights and encouragement to really know the Word.
Memorization isn't impressed upon us like it was when I was younger.
Good people bring good things out of the good stored up in their heart, and evil people bring evil things out of the evil stored up in their hearts. For out of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks. ~ Luke 6:45 TNIV
When we fill ourselves with God's Living Word we'll be destined to share the Truth.
Thanks for your insight and encouraging words.
Thank you for following my blog. Wow what a blessing! Your blog is awesome and I love your posts! God bless you my new friend in Christ!
There are too many counterfeits! We have to study the original, believe the original and trust the original God only wise! Blessings!
One encouraging way to look at the "fakes" is that God and we through Him have something worth counterfeiting.
We are commanded to study to showa ourselves approved and I pray that God gives me both the desire ( a divine hunger and thirst ) to study and proclaim what I have learned.
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