Have you ever handed a cashier a $20.00 bill and watched as they held it up in the light? What were they doing? They were checking to see if it was a counterfeit. Years ago, the FBI began training their agents to identify counterfeit currency. Do you know what method they used? They didn’t study fake currency, no, they studied real money. The idea was that if they spent enough time studying the real thing, they could pick out a fake when presented with it.
If we applied that same principle to our walk with God, just think of how much stronger our faith would be. If we gave as much attention to studying the LORD Jesus through His Word as we do so many of the triphal endeavors that take up our time each day such as watching sports, tv or browsing on social media, how much greater would be our sensitivity to the presence of God in our lives. The evil one loves to send counterfeits our way and they are often dressed in the garments of a great idea, or just a little fun or some much needed relaxation. He has one goal, to keep you from spending time alone with God.
Shortly after His baptism, Jesus went to the desert for 40 days. At the end of His time praying and fasting, Satan showed up to challenge Him. He tempted Jesus with one temptation after another. On one occasion , he showed Jesus the kingdoms of the world and said, “I’ll give them all over to you if you will just fall down and worship me” (Matthew 4: 9).
Immediately Jesus said, “Go away, satan! For it is written: Worship the LORD your God and serve only Him” (Matthew 4:10).
With that one declaration, Jesus reinforced the commandment He had given Moses hundreds of years earlier on Mt Sinai and clearly revealed the depth of it’s meaning. It’s the 2nd Commandment.
Exodus 20: 4-6, Do not make an idol for yourself, whether in the shape of anything in the heavens above or on the earth below or in the waters under the earth. 5 Do not bow in worship to them, and do not serve them; for I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God, bringing the consequences of the fathers’ iniquity on the children to the third and fourth generations of those who hate me, 6 but showing faithful love to a thousand generations of those who love me and keep my commands.
Think about it. What is the one gift you can give God? Is it money? If you give him your money, is God any richer? If you give God your time, does God attain more time? If you give God your intellect, is God more intelligent? No! What one gift can you give God? Your WORSHIP!
Worship involves LOVE, DEVOTION, SACRIFICE and FAITH. That is why Satan will offer you counterfeits. He wants the one gift you can give God for himself. In Isaiah 14 we read that Lucifer (Satan) was the anointed cherub in heaven before his fall. Some scholars have suggested that his very name means music. You could make the argument that Lucifer was a leader of worship in the presence of God. Then, pride was found in him. He wanted what only belongs to God, he wanted to be worshipped.
Protect your heart from idols. An idol is anything you put before God. They are anything that draws your affection or attention away from the one who loves you so much, that He knew you before you were born, has a plan for your life and sent His one and only Son to take away your sin!
For God has asked, “To whom will you compare me, or who is my equal?” – Isaiah 40: 25
Pursuing Truth with Chris Vaught 