Beware Counterfeits

The topic of knowing and understanding the Lord's will has been heavy on my heart for the past couple of weeks.  Certain events have led my family to the place where we're wondering if God's plans for us have changed.  Unfortunately, we have a lot of questions and no answers.  In many ways, the leadership of the Spirit has seemed quite obvious; however, the clarity and conviction has always been lacking.  In other words, it seems like God is trying to tell us something, yet neither of us can detect His voice.  We feel that something is amiss, like we're no longer where we're supposed to be, yet no direction for anything else has been given.  It seems like God is putting roadblocks in our paths, but the detour signs are glaringly absent.

As we discussed this last night, Jason reminded me of an important truth:  if it sounds like God and seems like God, but not completely, then there is a good chance that it's not God at all but rather someone trying to imitate God.  And I think we all know who does an excellent job at that--the one who, from the very beginning, stated "I will be like God."

God is not the author of confusion, but of peace (I Corinthians 14:33).  What we've been feeling of late is not peace.  It's confusion, plain and simple.  We're confused by the signs.  We're confused by the signals.  We're confused by the lack of direction.  So, if all we're getting from this is confusion, we can be assured it is not God.  It is a counterfeit trying to deceive us and lead us astray from God's true calling.

I've heard that when bank personnel are taught to identify counterfeit money, they are never shown a single piece of counterfeit currency.  Instead, they are directed to study the real thing until they know it well enough that anything else won't seem right.  That's how we need to deal with "the imitator."  We don't really need to study him or his tactics.  Instead, we need to study the "REAL THING" and know Him well enough that anything else won't seem right.  We need to know and understand God's nature enough to say, "No, this can't be God because if God wanted me to do something, He would make it clear.  He has done so in the past, and I can trust that He will do the same in the future."

I don't know what you may be facing today, but perhaps, like me, you're facing a time of confusion.  If so, keep in mind that confusion is not from God.  He gives peace, not unending questions.  Beware of wolves in sheep's clothing.  Watch out for the one who loves to play "dress up" and parade himself around as something that he's not.  Learn to identify the true voice of God, and that can only be done by studying Him closely.  Learn His voice, His nature, His methods.  And understand that God never changes.  If He made His instructions clear before, He'll make them clear again.

I also ask that you pray for my family as we face this time of uncertainty that God will make His will clear and that we will be faithful in identifying who is talking and what they're saying.  We desire God's will above all else.

But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ. - II Corinthians 11:3