Identifying the Counterfeit

 “Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits  to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world.” I John 4:1 (NIV) 

  

   It happened again. I got scammed by a counterfeit offer. Twice in eight weeks. Why in the world do I allow this to keep happening? It’s as if I automatically believe whatever someone is saying or selling! My latest counterfeit offers? First, undereye makeup that shrinks  bags under the eyes causing them to disappear - not in minutes - but in seconds!! Who doesn’t want that? Result? Counterfeit. If anything, the bags under my eyes looked bigger and more . . baggy. Scam #1 was a success. For the scammer; not for me. 

   And secondly, a shirt I ordered in the exact size and color that I wanted that was “guaranteed” to be delivered from storage in the U.S. in two weeks. All I had to do was look at the fine print. It may have been stored in the U.S. but it was by way of a country that I don’t believe exists. “Ten dollars off” was not; it actually cost $20.00 more than advertised. “Delivered at lightning speed”? Nope. The shirt just came today: EIGHT weeks after I ordered it. The upside? It was the color I ordered. The downside? It was NOT the size I ordered. Counterfeit again.

   Hopefully I will learn my lesson: if it’s too good to be true? It’s too good to be true. Read the fine print. Check out reports and comments on the company selling the product. Wait 24 hours before buying it; you may have changed your mind. 

   That is what we need to do when people, sometimes even Christians, try to persuade us that “the dress isn’t too revealing” or “the movie just has a few bad words” or “everybody is doing/seeing/saying” that. We can all get caught up in the “well, it’s bad but not as bad as (fill in the blank)” and we rationalize sin. I hate to admit it, but I have been the Christian doing just that!

    Satan has a plan and his target is Christians. What he is trying to do is to persuade us that we can have it all, when we give in just a little bit and “worship” him - because that is exactly what we are doing!  What we forget, however, is that in Christ we already have all that we need! 

    In Matthew 4:1-11, Satan offered Jesus the world and everything in it if he, Jesus, would just worship him. Satan is a master of deception so of course he didn’t say exactly that. Jesus only had to do one thing: bow before Satan and worship him. Counterfeit? Absolutely! Was Jesus fooled? Not at all. Satan was offering to give Jesus what already belonged to the King of Kings. Jesus stood firm and Satan had to leave!

   In my walk with Jesus, I don’t always pay attention to His directions that are found in His Word. My ears hear what they want to hear. When Satan twisted Scripture, Jesus had an answer. But my problem is that, just like with my counterfeit purchases, I don’t read the fine print. I may glance at God’s Word, but when it doesn’t fit what I want it to, I rationalize what I think He really means. 

   Here is the reality: absolutely no one needs to tell us that as Christians we are facing a huge spiritual battle day in and day out. We are living it! Satan never rests as he does everything he can to pull us away from the Lord. We must stay in God’s Word daily because that is where our wisdom for the day comes from - and our strength and our battle-ready “clothing.”

   Will I still make counterfeit purchases from time to time? I hate to admit it, but it may happen again. But as long as I am seeking the Lord’s will for my life, on my knees before Him and reading His word every single day, my life decisions will be based on Truth and I will not be fooled by Satan’s counterfeit offer.

   Father, thank you for surrounding us with Truth from your word. Please help me to seek your will in everything I do. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.

R.A.P. it up . . .

Reflect

• Have you made a decision based on what you “thought’ might be the right choice?

• Did it end up being counterfeit or the right decision?

Apply

• When you are making decisions, write down your concerns in your journal.

• Write down Scripture that pertains to your choices; pray over each one for guidance. 

Power

• I John 4:1 (NIV) “Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world.”

• Proverbs 14:15 (NIV) “A simple man believes anything, but a prudent man gives thought to his steps.”

• Ephesians 5:6 (NIV) “Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of such things God’s wrath comes on those who are disobedient.”