For many will come in My name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and will deceive many.
(Matthew 24:5)
Warnings are for our good. They are meant to get our attention and keep us safe. When we do not heed the warnings, bad things can happen.
Recently, I was driving down a two-lane road, the driver on my left and I came up to a red light and we both stopped. Eventually our light turned green, we both looked both ways, and noticed a huge trailer coming towards the intersection, but it had quite a distance to go, and we had the right-of-way because our light was green, so we both felt it was safe to proceed. But just as we inched forward, the trailer blew through its red light with such speed and force that both our vehicles shook from the blow back. It felt like we had both missed a crash by inches. The driver on the left looked at me with wide horrified eyes, made the sign of the cross and exhaled deeply. I understood him perfectly because my reaction was like his. Shock! It was a close call, but God!
Our world today is in constant motion, and we are surrounded by an explosion of human traffic, human teachings, human knowledge, and human wisdom. We must remain spiritually vigilant and heed the warning signs, otherwise even the very elect may be deceived. No one is immune.
In Matthew's gospel, Jesus' warns his disciples concerning false prophets and false Christ’s. He says that "they will come in my name (Christ's name) and will deceive many." Their agenda is deception, and they are good at their craft (1 Peter 5:8). They are good at teaching things contrary to the Truth; and things that sound almost true. God's cautionary word is our warning sign and therefore we must dwell in this intersection between earth and eternity with a sense of alertness.
Fortunately, God has given us the Holy Spirit. He is our close companion on life's journey. He is our teacher. The Spirit of God can help us discern what is true, from what is almost true. He alone can keep us from crashing. He alone can deliver us safely to our eternal destination. And one day, we will lift our hands in gratitude and praise and say, "Close call, but God." For it is only by his grace that we are saved. AMEN.