Issue 998 – Not Bacon? – March 4, 2023
Not everything in life is as it appears to be.
I found this shelf fungus growing on a log along the trail in the Campbell Valley Regional Park, Langley. There are more than 1600 species of macro-fungi that grow here in B.C. (and likely many more not yet formally catalogued or recorded).
This one caught my eye because it looked like strips of uncooked bacon. My skills for identifying fungal species are sub-par, so I am unsure which bracket fungus it is. I think of it as the bacon fungus, hardly the scientific nomenclature.
I am always amazed at the appearance and forms that plants and animals take on. A species can often mimic something completely different.
For example, consider the pink orchid mantis (pictured above). It looks like the orchids it lives among, giving it cover for hunting. I’m sure you can think of many other examples.
Mimics and deceivers inhabit the human and spiritual realms too. Satan is the master of disguise, and his followers can also be.
For such men are false apostles, deceitful workmen, disguising themselves as apostles of Christ. And no wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light. So it is no surprise if his servants, also, disguise themselves as servants of righteousness. Their end will correspond to their deeds. 2 Corinthians 11:13-15
False teachers abound. All Christians will have some error or incompleteness in their theology; after all, we are finite beings trying to understand the infinite nature of our Holy God. That is very different from being a false teacher.
A false teacher seeks to lead us away from the truth of the gospel. They will pervert the Word to serve their own desires. Beware them.
On the other hand, there are also false Christians in the pews. Many people attend church regularly and know all the Christian jargon and rituals but have never opened their hearts to Christ. They don’t mean to deceive but are lost. Such people are in eternal peril.
Many people in the world assume they are Christians because they have some form of Christian heritage or have been exposed to the truth in one way or another. They are complacent about Jesus but in peril as well.
“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’ Matthew 7:21-23
For that reason, we must never stop preaching the gospel, even within the church. Not everyone in the building or group is saved yet.
Where is your heart? Have you given it to Christ? If you aren’t sure, run to Him in repentance and faith.
If you do belong to the Lord, praise His name and share His truth with others.
Be Blessed
Hallelu Yah / Praise God
Kevin
Gleanings From The Word
Experience an extraordinary God in ordinary life.
Soli Deo Gloria (For the glory of God alone)
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