Mistaken Identity

[Chad]

Mistaken Identity - July 03, 2006

Recently we visited Vaudreui, Canada. This is a small town southwest of Montreal which consists of one church, a school, one main street and several restaurants.

We stayed in a chateau there, situated on the shore of a lovely lake, surrounded by trees, flowers, statues, scattered benches, tables with umbrellas and two pavilions. It was a natural setting for an outside party or a wedding reception.

Wedding receptions abounded in June at the chateau, and I guess that is the reason my mind was set in a wedding-type mode, and I made a mistaken identity! One wedding party was at a pavilion somewhat removed from the chateau proper, but I could still see figures moving around and I enjoyed watching them. I saw the bride being photographed alone; some sort of portrait, I guessed. She stood so still, with her dress and veil just blowing in the breeze. That will make a really nice photo, I thought, and then left my viewing site to do some other things.

I gave the situation nary another thought until I went for my morning walk the next day. I felt so foolish when I realized the much photographed bride at the far away pavilion was no bride at all! Actually, it was a white umbrella, a two tiered affair, folded down. As I drew nearer, I wondered how I could have made such a mistake. All the signs on the previous day told me I had seen a bride; the reception, her appearance, dress and veil, and my imagination had it figured out! I was fooled from a distance, but saw the true picture when I got close to the situation.

Sometimes Christians fool other people with their good works, pious attitude, and church attendance. The truth is, circumstances and a false front may fool people, but they never fool God. He has the true, up-close view of each of us. He knows our motives, true desires, and our intentions. There will never be a mistaken identity in His eyes.

Contributed by Marion Smith: noles65@aol.com Comments/Feedback are welcome.

 

[4givN&hope4U]

We can even fool ourselves or be fooled by ourselves.

"Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.

"Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?

"And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity."

Matthew 7:21-23 in the King James version of the Holy Bible

Chad? Where is the passage of Scripture that tells the episode of the Disciples complaining to Jesus about an UN-believer going around trying to heal people using the name of "Jesus Christ"? And Jesus told the Disciples to leave the UN-believer alone because whoever speaks in His Name is for Him and not against Him. Did I catch that, correctly? There was an UN-believer going around healing people in the name of Jesus Christ. Is that possible? I'll guess it is, since Jesus said that these people that He will claim that He never knew had/have been going around casting out devils in His Name.

And then, the point to this is...

We can deceive ourselves in this manner, too; believing that we are saved or know God because we use the power of His Son's Name to do things that we, normally, could not do. Right?

"Fear them not therefore; for there is nothing covered, that shall not be revealed; and hid, that shall not be known."

Matthew 10:26 in the King James version of the Holy Bible

That is the reason I ask the LORD to reveal to me all my secret/hidden faults; so, I may have the chance to "REPENT" of them and to "TURN AWAY" from them.

"Wherefore I say unto you, All manner of sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven unto men: but the blasphemy against the Holy Ghost shall not be forgiven unto men.

"And whosoever speaketh a word against the Son of man, it shall be forgiven him: but whosoever speaketh against the Holy Ghost, it shall not be forgien him, neither in this world, neither in the world to come.

"Either make the tree good, and his fruit good; or else make the tree corrupt, and his fruit corrupt: for the tree is known by his fruit."

Matthew 12:31-33 in the King James version of the Holy Bible

"For whosoever shall do the will of my Father which is in heaven, the same is my brother, and sister, and mother."

Matthew 12:50 in the King James version of the Holy Bible

And what is the WILL OF GOD but that we should HUMBLE OURSELVES and REPENT OF OUR SINS, BE BAPTIZED, and TAKE UP OUR CROSSES and FOLLOW JESUS CHRIST?

For God is not willing that any should perish but that ALL should come to REPENTANCE.

"But he that received seed into the good ground is he that HEARETH THE WORD, and UNDERSTANDETH IT; which also BEARETH FRUIT, and BRINGETH FORTH, SOME AN HUNDREDFOLD, SOME SIXTY, SOME THIRTY."

Matthew 13:23 in the King James version of the Holy Bible

He that WINS SOULS IS WISE.