Have you ever purchased what you believed was an authentic antique only to learn that it was a very good imitation? Or you bought a piece of artwork, advertised as an original, but later discovered it was a convincing copy. Not all that glitters is gold, for there are many things in life that appear other than what they are.
Our eyes are not a reliable gauge for determining what is authentic or true. As the above sign shows, the lie sits on top of truth, which is what Satan does. He covers the truth with his lies. Only knowledge of God’s truth enables a person to distinguish between the genuine and counterfeit and between truth and lies.
So, how do we discern truth? Just as the jeweler studies gemology and learns, among other things, the difference between what is real and what is imitation, we study the Bible so that we can learn truth and separate it from the world’s deceptions and false versions of truth. Remember, when Satan (the god of this world) lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies (John 8:44).
The current deceptive lie is Satan’s attack on the inerrancy of Scripture. What better way to create doubt and unbelief then to have people not trust God’s Word, thus not trust God. This issue negatively reflects on God’s character which is foundational to believing and understanding the Bible. All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, reproof, correction, and instruction in righteousness (2 Timothy 3:16).
God’s Spirit gave His Word to those whom He chose to record His Word. Nearly 30 percent of the Bible’s content is prophetic, and only the prophecies of Revelation are yet to be fulfilled. Why then would we doubt God’s sovereign ability to protect His Word? Nothing is too difficult for God for His ways are perfect: His Word is flawless (Psalm 18:30).
Today’s world offers many cheap imitations of the “good life” that divert attention from eternal life with God. Thus, God’s Word warns that in the last days, people will exchange the truth about God for a lie and will worship and serve things of the world rather than the Creator of all things (Romans 1:25).
We are forewarned that as time approaches for Christ’s return, people will be lovers of self and money, and will be proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to parents, ungrateful, unholy, heartless, unappeasable, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not loving good, reckless,treacherous, puffed up with conceit, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, and having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power (2 Timothy 3:1-5).
There was a time when truth was truth, and a lie was a lie. Now lies are accepted as truth and truth is rejected. Unfortunately, today’s youth have been shaped by a culture that esteems open-mindedness, tolerance, and acceptance of all things ungodly. Therefore, they do not believe in absolute truth, so everything should be accepted and determined by the individual. Thus, they create their own morality and a personalized designer truth.
The Word warns that some will fall away from the faith, paying attention to deceitful spirits and doctrines of demons (Timothy 4:1). At this present time in history, many students and people in their 20s and 30s are turning away from the traditional Church and Christianity and are embracing witchcraft which includes Wicca, paganism, folk magic and other New Age traditions as one of the fastest-growing spiritual paths in America. And there are over seven million witchcraft posts on Instagram and more than 11 billion views on TikTok with more than a billion users, including an estimated 135 million in the US.
Many young people are gravitating to witchcraft, because as one young woman said, “At the heart of these practices is the fact that witchcraft enables me to see the world through a more balanced lens. I’ve felt the reassuring presence of the otherworldly in the midst of difficult circumstances, and I know that magic happens when I summon the strength to draw boundaries or stir away the guilt that bubbles up…if I choose self-care over self-sacrifice.”
This young woman, like many youths, do not understand the concept of self-sacrifice which is selflessness. If she were to sacrifice her will and surrender to Christ, she would have a reassuring presence and balance with Jesus, who leads, guides, strengthens, and brings comfort and peace to those who belong to Him. Depending on self makes a person their own god. The devil cleverly gives people a temporary sense of balance, peace, and a false knowledge, so they feel comfortable and secure in their blind deception.
The world is in chaos with wars and rumors of wars. Rights are threatened, inflation is out of control, the future is uncertain, and there is an epidemic of depression and suicides. So, young people are looking for something tangible to bring them comfort and hope. However, the Word warned that a time would come when people would not endure sound doctrine but would want to hear from teachers those things that please them and agree with their desires. In that process, they will turn away from hearing truth and will accept myths and lies (2 Timothy 4:3-4).
Those who reject Christ have chosen a world ruled by Satan and have bought his lie that happiness and contentment come from this world. But Jesus said that either we live for Him, or we live for the pleasures of this world. Although God provided many things for us to enjoy, we cannot be attached to this world.
The seven churches in Revelation represent seven different types of churches and their behaviors that reveal the reason for a steady decline in today’s church attendance and a falling away from God. Only two of the seven (28.57 percent) did what was right before God—Smyrna and Philadelphia. The church of Ephesus detested evil but left their first love—Christ. Jesus encouraged the church of Smyrna to stand in faith and overcome evil. The church of Pergamos worshiped God and idols, which represents today’s Christians who worship God and the things of this world. The church of Thyatira was doing many things right, but they excused worldly sins. The church of Sardis believed they were followers of Christ, but Jesus called them to repentance for their dead and faulty works, making them unworthy to walk with Him. The church of Philadelphia pleased Jesus, because they kept God’s Word. The church of Laodicea was neither hot nor cold but was lukewarm, wretched, miserable, blind, naked, and believed they had no need of anything. So, Jesus promised to spit them from His mouth because of lukewarmness for the things of God.
God’s Word tells us that all Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, reproof, correction, and training in righteousness, that we may be complete and equipped for every good work (2 Timothy 3:16-17 ESV). Therefore, let us daily pursue God’s truth found in His Word so that we may stand worthy before Him one day.
PRAYER: FATHER, my desire is to follow you with my whole heart, for this world is but a moment compared to eternity with You. Give me understanding of Your Word as I read and study it, so that I may know You and live according to Your will. In Jesus’ name, amen.