“Look! There he is!” Mark 13:21-23 ESV
At one time, it would have been fully believable to hear someone say “Look! There is Jesus!”, but those days are past. Jesus has been resurrected, he is no longer dead, but he also is no longer present with us in physical form. We must rely on his spirit and his word for guidance and comfort in our present time.
So, we must be very careful when we hear something like “Jesus has come back! He is just over there!” Anyone who makes this claim is intentionally deceiving you. We don’t have to worry about missing him. We won’t need to be told.
We will be the first to know.
What does it mean to be false? Today we fill our minds with a lot of fiction and fantasy in the form of movies, videos, games, books, etc. We have become quite comfortable with worlds and scenarios that are just not real. How do we tell when something or someone is just plain deceptive, misleading or not genuine?
Jesus tells us that these pretenders will be very convincing. They will be attractive, becoming, capable of incredible prophecies that actually come true. Or not. Who cares? It’s all so thrilling! They will perform amazing signs and wonders. Miracles will abound, seducing even the most faithful believer to turn away and follow them.
Please note that there are actual prophecies, signs and wonders that come from God. The trick is knowing what is real and what is not. (Hint: who gets the glory and credit? If it is a man or woman, beware!)
Get to know the real Jesus Christ while you can. Study his Word consistently and spend more of your time in prayer. Learn to trust him for the daily affairs of your life. This can be hard, stressful work, but soon you will see the rewards.
Copyright 2023 David J. Cooley