Daily Jewel

by   Pastor J.T. Carnell, McAlester, OK 

“The Master of Disguises”  

“Then out came a woman to meet him, dressed like a prostitute and with crafty intent.” – Proverbs 7:10

“And I will keep on doing what I am doing in order to cut the ground from under those who want an opportunity to be considered equal with us in the things they boast about. For such people are false apostles, deceitful workers, masquerading as apostles of Christ. And no wonder, for Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light.  It is not surprising, then, if his servants also masquerade as servants of righteousness. Their end will be what their actions deserve.” – 1st Corinthians 11:12-15 (NIV)

Remember one of the classic Coca-Cola slogans?  It’s the “Real Thing?”  It was out there to perhaps to counter all the imitation colas that had arisen in the late 60’s to prove that it may look like a cola and it may have the name, “cola,” but in the long run do not compare to the original.  To that I whole-heartedly agree!

I remember as a pre-teen, one of my favorite television shows was the Wild, Wild West.  The Wild Wild West told the story of two Secret Service agents: James West, the charming gunslinger (played by Robert Conrad), and Artemus Gordon (played by Ross Martin), the brilliant gadgeteer and master of disguise. Their unending mission was to protect President Ulysses S. Grant and the United States from all manner of dangerous threats

Although the show focused more on Conrad and his character my favorite was Ross Martin and the character he played and how he was able to transform himself into what he needed for the situation.  The phrase, “Master of Disguise” was indeed properly applied to this man!

There are a number of things in this world that at “first glance” have all the appearances of that which is wholesome, good, moral and/or Godly.  But appearances can deceive which is why we must always be on top of our game—to be on the alert to know when evil is on our doorstep, lurking, waiting for us to open the door and let it in!

            The passage from Corinthians certainly is a strong and clear warning that there are those out there who have all the appearances of being Godly men and women.  They say the right things, do the right things—even their motivations (on the surface) appear righteous.  However, several events in my lifetimes, like those in Jonestown, Guyana and Waco, Texas are proof that it is easy to be disguised as a servant of Christ when all the while another is actually at the helm.

            It is here where I must put on my “Preacher” hat (or robe or whatever visual is appropriate) and make this statement:  You cannot see through the disguises unless you are immersed into both the Word of God and the Life of Christ which includes prayer and being involved in the Body (ergo, the Church!)

            I would not be surprised to discover that the vast majority of those who have been duped through the ages to follow false prophets had very little  knowledge of the Word and were not involved in the life of the Church.  That is pure theory but it would not shock me if the facts proved my theory to be true.

            I would like to close this message with another passage:  one of my favorites from the Apostle Peter who witnessed and walked with “The Real Thing!”  He walked and talked with the Light and knew what we needed

“For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, mutual affection; and to mutual affection, love. For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. But whoever does not have them is nearsighted and blind, forgetting that they have been cleansed from their past sins.” – 2nd Peter 1:5-9