TRUE CHRISTIAN OR IMPOSTOR?

Some people really like diamonds.  I also think diamonds are beautiful, but while I appreciate their beauty, I also think they are really overpriced. After all, they are only very expensive decorations.  Personally I am willing to settle for any pretty stone or imitation of a diamond that looks as beautiful. 

But while I (and probably a lot of guys out there) may be content with a decoration that looks a lot like a diamond, most ladies are not.  And they know the difference and they want the real thing.

The same applies to being a real Christian, or someone that only looks a lot like one.

And God wants the real thing. God receives “the real thing” into his household.  He receives those with real faith as expressed by real gratitude and true surrender to Christ as Lord and Saviour.

Paul writes in Colossians 1: 23: …continue in your faith, established and firm, not moved from the hope held out in the gospel.

To remain faithful to Christ, is proof that your relationship with God is the real thing! The standard of a true and authentic relationship with God, is our faithfulness.  We must never be moved from the hope given us in the Gospel, not under any circumstances.

There are some who claim to be followers of Jesus Christ and yet they have no compassion for others, no urge to pray for the lost and those in dire straits, no desire to worship God or have fellowship with other Christians. It is weird when a Christian do not want to do these things. If this is the case one certainly wants to ask:  Are you really a Christian, or are you a fake – an imposter!

Well, the reason why many people who call themselves "Christians" show no evidence of owning the critical characteristics of Christianity, is that they are not really Christians at all.

And hypocrisy is not attractive.  Impostors are quickly recognised, also by those outside God’s household, and their deception brings the people of God into disrepute!

True Christianity requires a life-transforming encounter with and complete surrender to God.

True Christianity is about a relationship with the living God. If Christ is living in you, there will be proof of it in the way you live and the way you serve the Lord and seek to obey him.

We do not know other people’s hearts.  We cannot judge any heart. But we can discern what kind of fruit a tree bears. Jesus said that you could tell what kind of tree you are looking at, by the fruit it bears. So when you see apples hanging on a tree, you conclude that you are looking at an apple tree. When you see no trace of Christian fruit in the life of a person, you conclude that perhaps he/she is not a Christian after all.

True Christians follow Jesus and true Christians worship Christ, the Lord. True Christians show how remarkable it is to bear the fruit of the Holy Spirit. True Christians love Jesus and they love his Church. They love being with other Christians.

True Christians cannot help to speak about Jesus and share him with those who are lost.

True Christians adore Jesus Christ. They follow him faithfully!