Counterfeit and fake designer goods have been around since the beginning of trade.

This headline caught my eye because of the sheer magnitude of the illegal goods seized, valued at over 1.1 billion dollars. 

Source: Fox News

If one buys a product from a reputable store or seller, the likelihood that it is a counterfeit product is being purchased is low. Nonetheless, I am certain that I have purchased fake products. It is a serious problem in every country and unless one has a very trained and discerning eye, it may be impossible to distinguish it from the genuine article. What hope is there for the layperson to have confidence that what they are buying is genuine? Not much.

What about our relationship with God? There are many religions and self-proclaimed prophets touting they are the true path to enlightenment, salvation, and eternal life. Some even use the name of Jesus Christ to prove their authenticity, liberally sprinkling their teachings with quotations from Jesus Christ and the Bible. It sounds like Christianity. How can we be sure? 

I say this because some ungodly people have wormed their way into your churches, saying that God’s marvelous grace allows us to live immoral lives. The condemnation of such people was recorded long ago, for they have denied our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ. 

Jude 1:4 (NLT)

Pastor Bill Washer warns, “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.”

What hope is there for a layperson to discern God’s Truth from counterfeit and false teachings? God’s grace never leads us in a direction to lead an immoral life. Test any teaching against the entire Truth of God’s Word. If we honestly submit ourselves to God’s leading, His Holy Spirit will always convict us and lead us to follow God instead of false teachings and counterfeit religions. 

Love and trust in the Lord; seek His will in your life.