Fake or Real?

“Such people are not serving Christ our Lord; they are serving their own personal interests. By smooth talk and glowing words they deceive innocent people.”
Romans 16:18 NLT

These are among the most valuable musical instruments, even to this day. These Stradivarius violins, made in the eighteenth century in Cremona, Italy, actually have improved with age, producing a priceless sound. Only about 650 exist. In fact, they are so rare that in 2011 one sold at auction for nearly $16 million!

Yet the market often is flooded with imitations. Some owners innocently come to the wrong conclusion, having found a violin in places like attics. One person planned to get rid of a violin until she found a label saying that this was a Stradivarius. Unfortunately, appraisers revealed that it was a fake.

Occasionally, hopes are raised after a genuine Strad is recovered. A Canadian violinist reports that around 10 people a week contact her “who believe they found the next Stradivarius that will make them millions of dollars.” The Smithsonian Institution received so many inquiries they had to publish information about how to recognize fakes.
But experts know the difference, and how to tell a fake from a genuine. Yet many still are fooled.

The Bible tells us that the same principles apply to our Christian lives. Some people have a real relationship with Jesus Christ. Their lives genuinely have been transformed. They really do believe. But there also are fakes, people masquerading as Believers. Who think they are Christians, but who, in reality, follow their own creeds and desires.

The Bible tells us that many of these people, in fact, are “serving their own personal interests.” They learn to manipulate others and sound sincere “by smooth talk and glowing words.” In the process they can “deceive innocent people.”

Make sure that you are on guard against deception. And make sure that your faith is real, that you have a personal relationship with Jesus.

Prayer: Father, help me to be sensitive to deceivers. Help me to be genuine. Convict me of sin. Help me to be a strong witness for You. In Jesus’ name. Amen.