“Prove all things; hold fast that which is good” (I Thessalonians 5:21).

Human beings are very gullible, and counterfeiting is a profitable occupation for many deceivers. But spiritual counterfeits are the most dangerous of all, and at times the most difficult to detect. There are many false gods, and this is the subject of the very first of the true God’s Ten Commandments: “Thou shalt have no other gods before me” (Exodus 20:3). We are warned also to “beware of false prophets” (Matthew 7:15) and “false Christs” (Matthew 24:24). There are those who preach “another Jesus” (II Corinthians 11:4), and many who come preaching “another gospel” (Galatians 1:6) rather than the true saving gospel of Christ.

There are also counterfeit Christians who are “false brethren” (II Corinthians 11:26) as well as “false teachers” (II Peter 2:1,2) and “false apostles” (II Corinthians 11:13). They preach “peace; when there is no peace” (Jeremiah 6:14), and some will even “shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect” (Matthew 24:24). Satan himself is the greatest counterfeiter, for he “deceiveth the whole world” (Revelation 12:9) in his attempt to become a counterfeit god. Thus we are warned to “try the spirits whether they are of God” (I John 4:1) and to “prove all things”—to test them by God’s word.

In this scientific age, it is especially important that we not be deceived by “science falsely so called” (I Timothy 6:20). So-called evolutionary “science” is not supported by any real scientific evidence and is contrary both to common sense and the Bible. Many professing Christians have “erred concerning the faith” because of evolution (I Timothy 6:21) which has been made the pseudo-scientific rationale for a multitude of false philosophies. May God help us to hold fast only to that which is good! HMM