What is a pretender? According to
Webster’s Dictionary it is a person who makes deceitful pretenses,
or a person who professes beliefs and opinions that they do not
hold. Jesus’ definition of a pretender is called a hypocrite. You
can find this word throughout the New Testament, in fact Jesus
despised these hypocrites to the point He said to them, “Watch and
beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees.” Matt 16:6 and
Matt 23:23-29.
Well, that is
what I was! A person who professed beliefs and opinions I
did not hold. Sure I owned a bible and used the label “Christian”,
but the only person I was fooling was myself. You see, I was what
was called a “False convert”, to be even more accurate, I was a
false professing man! I thought I came to the Lord through a simple,
well rehearsed prayer but all I had was a knowledge of Jesus, not
complete and total brokenness over my sin.
So life went on. I carried myself as a
Christian; I jumped over the wall and walked as if all was well,
never wanting to accept that I had to walk the narrow road and
through the door (Luke 13:24). You see there are certain
scriptures that stick out in a man’s mind when he is made aware of
them. One can ignore them, but nonetheless they are true and prove
to be a stern warning.
Do not love
the world or the things in the world.
If anyone loves the world, the
love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world—the
desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride in
possessions—is not from the Father but is from the world. And the
world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the
will of God abides forever.
1 John 2:15-17
You see …
that was me. Though I professed out of my mouth, my
heart’s affection was on this world. The pride of achievement, self
righteousness, anger, greed and the other fruits of the flesh were
what this branch was producing. To name all the bondage I was in
this article would glorify the flesh more than God, but for those
who can say they were a false professor know exactly what it
details. And for those reading and are searching, you know what sins
are hidden to man but so clear to God. You also know you too need to
be broken over them! How true it is, that you cannot server two
masters! “No one can serve two masters,
for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be
devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and
money.”
Matt 6:24
This
lifestyle was a normal day in and day out for me. Until
one day I heard a message that changed my outlook. It was a message
called “True and False Conversion”. For the first time I realized
that I professed Christ only for a selfish reason, and not because
HE was truly Lord and King over my life. When the message was over I
went into the back room and fell on my knees (to date I have never
fallen that hard on them since, it was like I was driven into the
ground) and I prayed that God would forgive me for breaking HIS Holy
law, that He would break me of the selfish tendencies and heal me so
I may surrender my life over to HIM. There was nothing about me that
day; it was all about HIM and HIS Glory.
Since that time, God has grown me so
much. The biggest area is obedience to HIS word and serving HIM out
of love and surrender. Of course this falls into fulfilling the
great commission. (Matt 28, Luke 24, Acts 1)
The Lord has allowed me to spread the
gospel and glorify HIS name amongst the part of the world in which
HE planted me. At first it was because I did not want people to go
to hell. But, because of HIS awesomeness HE once again showed my why
it is good to be obedient and serve. Not for people to go to heaven
and not for people to stay out of hell, you see this will happen
regardless through obedience. HE taught me that HE deserves the
reward of His suffering, HE showed me that the Lamb, will receive
glory through one’s judgment, or through ones repentance. HE showed
me that we are to live to glorify HIM and do all things for the sake
of HIS name (Romans 1:5).
Thanks be to GOD I was shown that I
was nothing but a pretender, I pretended to be a Christian, I
pretended all was fine with just being a Church attendee, I
pretended my sin would not be revealed or found out. Now you are
faced with this one question, just like everyone else here,
what if I’m pretending?
- Steve
Pretending
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