Be not carried about with divers and strange doctrines. For it is a good thing that the heart be established with grace. – Hebrews 13:9
For most genuine products that are crafted in the world today, an imitation is also made, and then sold for a cheaper price. For example, on the streets of many cities in Asia, you can purchase “genuine” Rolex watches, Nike running shoes, or Prada handbags for a fraction of their market prices. Numerous perfumes are also only replications of famous, more expensive fragrances. Our world seems full of imitations!
While my daughter was traveling in Europe, she saw what was purported to be an original painting by a famous artist. It was reasonably priced, so she snatched it up, feeling happy about her good fortune and ownership. When she returned to the States, however, she found that it was not an original at all—it was just a reprinted duplicate.
From that experience, my daughter learned that while some counterfeit products reflect poor workmanship, others are hard to distinguish from the real thing. For some people, the disappointment and dissatisfaction caused by an imitation are alleviated by the discounted price. For others, only a true original will satisfy.
In our spiritual walk, if we try to buy a counterfeit religion—one that is of low quality and comes at a cheaper price—we will bring disappointment to our souls. There are plenty of ways to cut corners in the Gospel to save time and effort, but the eternal loss that results from compromising God’s Word can never be mitigated by a cheaper cost. Pursuing a belief that is less than the teachings of Jesus Christ will result in a fake religion—one where God is not the Lord of all, miracles are merely coincidences, and victory and real peace are non-existent.
We can rest assured, however, that there is nothing counterfeit in the teachings of God. The Bible tells of real salvation, genuine healing, total peace, and everlasting life. Let’s always choose God’s religion—taken right from the pages of His Word—for our spiritual growth and well-being. All others are just imitations, and in the end will fail.
Dear Lord, Please help us to be established in Your Word, the only true way. Help us to keep our eyes off imitation doctrines that threaten to confuse and destroy our spiritual walk. Amen.