Is Our Faith A Counterfeit Reality?

When people see a photograph or video today, they often ask, “Is it real?” A home computer can manipulate images to create a picture of an event that never happened. Images can be inserted into or removed from photographs. A video can be doctored to make it appear that a person was caught committing a crime or performing an act of heroism. The camera may not lie, but the computer can.

Centuries before such modern technology, the apostle Paul warned Timothy about counterfeit reality in the church. He said that in the last days people would be self-absorbed, “having a form of godliness but denying its power” (2 Timothy 3:5). He repeatedly emphasized the need to live a godly life, warning that “evil men and impostors will grow worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived” (2 Timothy 3:13).

Paul charged Timothy to “continue in the things which you have learned and been assured of” (2 Timothy 3:14). True godliness honors and obeys God while its counterfeit seeks pleasure and personal gain. One pleases the Lord; the other gratifies natural desire. Both are identified by their actions. Our Lord said, “A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit” (Matthew 7:18).

When people hear us say we are Christians, they may wonder if our faith is real or counterfeit. Our actions will answer their question (Matthew 7:20 NLT). Let our life reflect the example our Lord left us in word and in deed (1 Peter 2:21; 1 John 2:6; cf. Acts 10:38).

—Mike Riley, Gospel Snippets