For over twenty years, Jake has serviced my laboratory’s microscopes. Every six months, he arrived and efficiently cleaned and inspected my microscopes ensuring they would be maintained in excellent working condition. This visit was different. It was the first time I had to call him for a repair. Frankly, I was surprised that after all these years and using these microscopes to view hundreds of thousands of microscope slides, a repair had to be made. It was a testimony to the excellent care he had rendered to my instruments.
After a few minutes, he looked up from the microscope and shook his head. “You see these little screws? They were loose and I tightened them.” He confidently smiled. “Most repair people won’t tell you this. They will just force you to buy an entire new unit for about two thousand dollars.” I was elated and thankful for Jake’s honesty and expertise. It reminded me of my experience with an auto dealer that once tried to talk me into buying an entirely new tire when I had a flat. Suspicious of his motives, I took my car to my usual tire repair shop who laughed at the suggestion and showed me that all that was needed was a simple patch to fix the flat tire.
We must always be wary of businesses that seek to oversell services and products and bamboozle the unsuspecting customer. Sadly, there are many who, in the name of God and religion, seek to confuse and gain our trust through deceit and lies. They will not explain the entire Truth but berry pick ideas and Bible verses that will give us a false sense of comfort; obedience and faith at no cost or sacrifice from ourselves or to God.
Preacher and evangelist Paul Washer wrote, “One of the greatest distinguishing marks of false prophet is that he will always tell you what you want to hear, he will never rain on your parade; he will get you clapping, he will get you jumping, he will make you dizzy, he will keep you entertained, and he will present a Christianity to you that will make your church look like a six flags over Jesus.”
For a time is coming when people will no longer listen to sound and wholesome teaching. They will follow their own desires and will look for teachers who will tell them whatever their itching ears want to hear. They will reject the truth and chase after myths.
2 Timothy 4:3-4 (NLT)
We are living in an age when moral relativism and wokeness dominate our interactions. It is pervasive throughout social media, the press, and the workplace. Not surprisingly, it has crept into our churches. Like business dealings, we need to be alert to deceptive actions and charlatans. Only by clinging to the Truth of the entire Bible will we be prepared to respond to anyone who teaches otherwise.
Love and trust in the Lord; seek His will in your life.
The Bereans Blog 