Non-threatening
Read Time: 2 min
People in the fashion and technology industries have been creating fake Instagram personalities. These models often look so perfect that they elicit responses of doubt concerning their authenticity. Nevertheless, followers actually follow these human creations.
God knows who His true followers are. However, He provides the investigative judgment in order to make a distinction for the onlooking universe. It’s a time for discerning between those who have falsely worn the Christian label and those who have decided to genuinely follow Jesus. Ultimately, the latter will not be threatened by the judgment that takes place before the Second Coming.
Jesus explained that the church would have false believers up until His Second Coming. He illustrated it through a parable in which tares, or weeds, represent those who claim to be disciples but are not. The wheat represents Christ’s true followers. When the suggestion is made that the weeds be pulled out, the farmer responds: “Let both grow together until the harvest, and at the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, ‘First gather together the tares and bind them in bundles to burn them, but gather the wheat into my barn’ ” (Matthew 13:30).
Sometimes it may seem simple for us to discern the real Christian from the fake, like in the area of good deeds. Those who are actively involved in proclaiming the gospel or helping the poor appear to be in an authentic relationship with God. However, Christ explained that this is not always an accurate test: “Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’ ” (Matthew 7:22).
Apply It:
Have you ever struggled with hypocrisy in an area of your life? Pray for God to help you be a genuine Christian.
Dig Deeper:
Matthew 7:23; Daniel 7:9, 10; 1 John 2:1
Key Bible Texts
Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us. (Romans 8:34 KJV)