"And many false prophets will arise and lead many astray." Matthew 24:11
While shopping for running shoes with my son last weekend, we looked in several different stores to find the best deal. So you can imagine my son's surprise when he found a pair he had been wanting that were much cheaper than we had ever seen them. As he excitedly handed me the box, I examined the shoes. The packaging was the same, the emblem and markings were the same but they just didn't look or feel like the "real thing". And since there was no way to be sure they weren't counterfeit, we left them on the shelf.
You can be one hundred percent sure that Jesus is the "real thing" though, nothing counterfeit and the only way to Salvation (John 14:6). And when it comes to imposters, the bible tells us that, "many false prophets will arise and lead many people astray." These teachers, while proclaiming to follow Christ, will tell people what they want to hear-such things as "A loving God would never send anyone to Hell," or that "You can earn your way into Heaven." Jesus warned his disciples then, and is warning us now that, if we don't know the Word or the "real thing" we can easily be "led astray".
John MacArthur, in his book Reckless Faith, wrote that "Federal agents don’'t learn to spot counterfeit money by studying the counterfeits. They study genuine bills until they master the look of the real thing. Then when they see the bogus money they recognize it.”" As followers of Christ, this should be our approach to spotting false or counterfeit teachers as well. May we learn and know the Word so well that we can recognize the "real thing" when we hear it.
Heavenly Father, thank you for warning us that there will be false teachers that will promote messages that are contrary to your Word. May we study scripture daily that we would be able to spot counterfeit teachings that might lead us or our families astray. Help us to be discerning and ever watchful of the words we receive as truth. It's in your precious name we pray, Jesus. Amen.
Happy Running!!!
Don't be fooled - Apologetix
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