Rolex and Rembrandt. Diamonds and dollar bills. What do these things have in common? Besides sharing significant worth, they have all been replicated. Imitated. Falsified and forged. In fact, it's hard to find anything of value in the world that doesn't beget a lesser-quality reproduction. A corresponding counterfeit. A cheap knock-off.
Authenticity and purity come at a high price, and many reputable appraisers make their living examining and proving the worth of precious possessions. Scripture calls our faith "more precious than gold" and, like gold, faith bears refining that it may be proved genuine (1 Pet. 1:7). Unfortunately, like anything of value, there are faith phonies—imposters of the one true God that threaten to pervert and pollute the purity of our worship.
Moses understood the need to protect the purity of Israel's worship, especially in light of the idolatry of the nations they were about to dispossess. He taught the Israelites how to verify the credibility of prophets and the words they spoke: "If a prophet, or one who foretells by dreams, appears among you and announces to you a miraculous sign or wonder, and if the sign or wonder...takes place, and he says, 'Let us follow other gods...and let us worship them,' you must not listen to the words of that prophet or dreamer" (Deut. 13:1–3).
Scripture repeatedly warns against false prophets and teachers (2 Pet. 2:1, 1 Tim. 4:1) encouraging us to "test the spirits to see whether they are from God" (1 Jn. 4:1). We must not forget that spiritual 'works' are never evidence in themselves—even the coming of the antichrist will be accompanied by many miracles, signs, and wonders (2 Thess. 2:9)! We must exercise discernment by examining the meat of the message, instead of the emotion of the experience.
The best way to spot a fake is to become an expert in the original. The more we study how God reveals Himself in Scripture and in the person of Jesus, the better equipped we are to protect ourselves from the enemy's lies. Paul issued a sobering warning to the Galatians: "If anybody is preaching to you a gospel other than what you accepted, let him be eternally condemned!" (Gal. 1:9). Aligning our lives with God's Word and walking according to His truth is the best defense against deception! Discernment protects the purity of worship.
Moses continued, saying, "If your very own brother, or your son or daughter, or the wife you love, or your closest friend secretly entices you, saying, 'Let us go and worship other gods'...do not yield to him or listen to him" (Deut. 13:6, 8). Before the coming of Christ, such cunning coercion was punishable by death (v. 9–10). This steep sentence demonstrates how seriously God takes the sin of leading others into idolatry. It also demonstrates how God never puts the highest priority on human relationships.
The type of devotion God wants from His people runs deeper than any earthly bond, surpassing even the ties of family, friends, and those most dear to us. Jesus said, "Anyone who loves his father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; anyone who loves his son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me..." (Matt. 10:37), and, "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and all your soul and all your mind and all your strength" (Mk. 12:30). The point is, Jesus comes first! We should never be willing to forsake our relationship with the Lord for a wayward loved one. Devotion protects the purity of worship.
Finally, Moses addressed the issue of pure worship on a national level: "If you hear it said...that wicked men have arisen among you and have led the people of their town astray, saying, 'Let us go and worship other gods'...then you must inquire, probe and investigate it thoroughly" (Deut. 13:12–14). If a diligent examination proved this "abominable thing" was true, God commanded the town and its inhabitants be completely destroyed (v. 14–15). Israel was not to give ground to these enemies of the Lord!
In his letter to the Ephesians, Paul likened the Christian life to a battle in which he encouraged believers to stand their ground against spiritual forces of evil (Eph. 6:13). The enemy is always trying to gain ground in our lives—he "prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour" (1 Pet. 5:8). We must diligently examine our lives for 'stolen ground,' and give those areas over to the Lord in repentance! May we heed the call of Scripture that urges, "Let us examine our ways and test them, and let us return to the Lord" (Lam. 3:40). Diligence protects the purity of worship.
We must ask ourselves an important question: What would it take to lead me away from God? Would signs and miracles do it? My spouse? My child? Could the tides of culture or the love of sin draw me away? Each of us must decide in our own hearts who we will follow, what we will worship. And should we choose to worship the one true God, let us protect the purity of our worship with discerning, devoted, and diligent hearts!
Lord, let my worship of You be pure! Protect me from those that would seek to turn me away from You, to lead me astray. Holy Spirit, guide me in the Word; grant me discernment and help me to know You better. Keep me from elevating anyone or anything above You, Jesus—You are above all! May my relationship with You always be the highest priority. Lord, keep me aware of the enemy's tactics and of my need for repentance. Let diligence mark my walk with You; let devotion mark my heart for You; let discernment mark my worship of You! Amen.
Reflection Questions
- Are there any parts of Scripture you neglect to study? How will this affect your knowledge of who God is and your relationship with Him?
- Can you say that Jesus is priority number one in your life? Who or what tends to supersede Him?
- Would you describe your spiritual walk as diligent? How do you combat sin and spiritual warfare when they arise?