June 21st – Watch Out for Counterfeits

All in favor of change say, “Aye!” I remember avocado kitchen sets and other designer memorabilia from the 70’s era. New technology has since replaced them: stainless steel appliances, granite countertops, and wireless connectivity. Cell phones are now wallet-sized devices which manage my emails and calendar, and can take high-quality pictures with a fingernail-sized microchip. I’m in favor of these changes, which make life much easier.

But not all change is for the better. Through wireless internet connectivity, hackers stole over ten million credit card numbers from a secure corporate database. The same technology which allowed ten million customers to conduct cashless transactions at major retailers was used to steal their credit card numbers. Some changes in technology are tremendous, but we must always beware of people who use it maliciously.

In the same way, changes in the church have allowed the gospel to literally be broadcasted throughout the world. We have developed new ways to reach people with God’s truth. However, people have used the body of Christ maliciously. Wanting to advance their own cause, they have “counterfeited” truth, mixing it with falsehood. While some changes are good, we must be careful to weigh all change against the truth of Scripture.

It’s easy to follow the latest religious fads. Determine to let God’s Word be the unchanging Standard by which you find security from spiritual counterfeiters.

Everything continues in a state of rest unless it is compelled to change by forces impressed upon it. —Isaac Newton’s First Law of Motion

Devotional by Pastor Jim Scudder, Jr.