Those who work around money have to be careful not to accept a counterfeit. They must learn to see the difference between a counterfeit and an original at a glance. If they do not know what the original looks like, they are likely to accept a counterfeit and lose some money.
Spiritually speaking, each of us must be able to tell a counterfeit from an original when we see it. We must not let the devil trick us into accepting a counterfeit (2 Corinthians 2:11; 11:14). If we let him trick us, we will lose more than money. We will lose our souls (Matthew 16:26). Let us consider one of the devil’s counterfeits that we must be careful not to accept.
Do not accept a counterfeit church. In fulfilment of prophecies and promises, Christ established His church on the first Pentecost following His resurrection (Isaiah 2:2–3; Daniel 2:44; Joel 2:28–32; Matthew 16:18; Mark 9:1; Acts 2:47). Although Christ established only one church (Ephesians 4:4; cf. 1:22–23), the devil has filled the world with counterfeits.
As is always the case with counterfeits, they bear enough of the marks of the original to deceive those who are not careful to notice every detail. Because the devil has many counterfeits, we must make sure that what we have found is the original. We must make sure that the church of which we are a member can trace its origin back to the Day of Pentecost (Acts 2:47). We must make sure that the church of which we are a member teaches the plan of salvation taught in the Scriptures (Acts 2:38; Romans 6:17). We must make sure that the church of which we are a member worships on the proper day and in the proper way (Acts 20:7; 1 Corinthians 16:1–2; John 4:24).
None of us wants to face judgment in a counterfeit church. Counterfeit churches will be rooted up (Matthew 15:13). You can be sure that Christ can tell His church from the counterfeits made by the devil.
—Wade Webster
