—man looketh on the outward appearance, but the LORD looketh on the heart.–1 Sam. 16:7
Whether currency or Christianity, counterfeits are common. For every genuine thing there are copies. There are “knock-offs” for nearly every designer item– from pens to purses, from sweaters to sneakers. If it is of value you can bet that someone will make a fake. However, as bad as this is, it is much more serious when it comes to the matter of religion.
Here’s a fact you need to keep in mind–Many who profess Christ do not possess Christ. Although many are simply confused, many are not. They know they are unsaved, they have no peace of mind that comes from knowing heaven is their home, yet they pretend that all is well. And since none of us have perfect knowledge we can’t always tell the fake from the real thing. Not all the actors are in Hollywood. Many are quiet skillful when it comes to pretending to be a Christian. In fact, sometimes the outward display is even more impressive than what you see in some true believers. Only the Lord knows the truth about these deceivers– they fool everyone except God.
But this is a fools game. Pretending to be a Christian isn’t something any sensible person would do– but it’s evident that a lot of folks aren’t sensible. They are spiritually dead and blind. The threat of hell does not frighten them and the glories of heaven do not attract them. They refuse to believe the Bible. In their mind you die like a dog, unconscious of anything. To them the Bible is just another book, Jesus is just another religious leader, and one religion is just as good as another. So the game goes on. They keep pretending– content in their choice, but corrupt in their heart and covetous in their spirit because they are unfulfilled in life.
Dear friend, if this describes you, may I ask, what do you hope to gain? What is your reasoning? Just what has your guise of godliness gained you? What if you are wrong? Your “choice” of religion may be “Christianity”, but it is of no benefit whatsoever without a personal relationship with Christ. It provides neither safety nor satisfaction. Why do you cling to it? Whitewash won’t strengthen a fence, and your religion won’t help you in the day of judgement. If you if have been living under the guise of godliness, it’s time for you to come clean about your condition, get clean through a spiritual conversion, and stayed clean by way of consecration to Christ. Only then will you be truly content.
