For false Christs and false prophets will appear and perform signs and miracles to deceive the elect - if that were possible. (Mark 13:22, Matthew 24:24)
My sister is quite a gardening enthusiast. She loves more than anything to be out in her yard, digging in the dirt, trimming, weeding, planting, transplanting. Poison ivy gets her if she isn't careful, but several bouts haven't stopped her from her favorite pastime.
In spring, when we were visiting, she couldn't wait to show me around outside. Excitedly, she pointed out this and that. The irises caught my eye. "I love irises! They are just beautiful!" She laughed and said, "Oh, only the top ones are real. I stuck the other ones in there for more color. They're fake!"
They looked real to me. So I got a little closer; they still all looked about the same. I went up really close to inspect, and touched the petals. Sure enough, the purple on top were genuine, the pinkish ones, artificial.
Real, fake. Sometimes it is hard to tell which is which. I have been fooled by plastic food displays, life-like statues, costume jewelry. In the Bible, there's a warning: "Watch out that you are not deceived. For many will come in my name, claiming, 'I am he,' and, 'The time is near.' Do not follow them." (Luke 21:8)
Real? Or fake? How can you tell which is which? When it comes to spiritual things, we can rely on the Holy Spirit, who witnesses to the Truth, which always lines up with the Word of God. Fortunately for us we don't have to guess, we can have supernatural discernment. "But when He, the Spirit of truth, comes, He will guide you into all truth." (John 16:13)
That is good news.
-sally i. kennedy
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