Real or Fake Prophets

For false Christs and false prophets will appear and perform signs and miracles to deceive the elect-if that were possible. – Jesus (Mark 13:22, Matthew 24:24)

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My sister is quite a gardening nut. She loves more than anything to be out in her yard, digging in the dirt, trimming, weeding, planting, transplanting. Poison ivy gets her if she isn’t really careful, but several bouts haven’t stopped her from her favorite pastime.

In spring, when we were visiting, she couldn’t wait to walk me around outside. Excitedly, she pointed out this and that (names I can never remember). Some flowers caught my eye; I remarked, “Oh! Irises. I love irises! They are just beautiful!. She laughed and said, “Oh, only the top ones are real. I just stuck the other ones in there. They’re fake!”

They all looked real to me. So I got a little closer; they still all looked about the same. I went up really close to inspect, and touched the petals. Sure enough, the pinkish ones were artificial; the purple on top, genuine.

Real, fake. Sometimes it is hard to tell which is which. I have been fooled by plastic food displays, life-like statues, costume jewelry. The difference is just short of polar, but I couldn’t tell.

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In the Bible, there’s a warning: He (Jesus) replied: “Watch out that you are not deceived. For many will come in my name, claiming, ‘I am he,’ and, ‘The time is near.’ Do not follow them. (Luke 21:8)

Real or fake? How can you tell which is which?

When it comes to spiritual things, we can rely on the Holy Spirit, who witnesses to the Truth, which always lines up with the Word of God.

But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all truth – Jesus (John 16:13)

Ephesians 4:11-16 – It was he who gave some to be apostles, some to  be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, to prepare God’s people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ. Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of men in their deceitful scheming. Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into him who is the Head, that is, Christ. From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work.

— written by Sally I Kennedy

Related christian articles for further reading:

Do Ghosts Exist? Greg Olsen Paintings St. Theresa’s Prayer Why I Don’t Like Most Christians