REAL OR IMITATION?
Some years ago, I decided to buy flowers for my wife. At our local shop, I saw a lovely bunch of roses standing among the other flowers. I picked them up, took them inside and paid for them.
The shopkeeper looked at me rather strangely, but I thought nothing of it. I was delighted with my beautiful roses—and especially pleased with the price!
When I gave them to my wife, however, she placed them in a vase without any water. Later that week, I asked her what she thought of them.
“Oh, they are lovely,” she replied, “but they are imitation.”
Imitation! They were not real at all. In Northern Ireland, we might simply call them “fake.” Still, there was one advantage: they would never die, wither or fade—and I would never need to buy them again!
I had not intended to buy imitation roses. The price would not have mattered. The shopkeeper had not told me they were artificial, and I had neither touched nor smelled them. There was no sign warning me that they were not real.
But I should have looked more carefully.
Of course, buying artificial roses was not a matter of life and death. But what if we make the same mistake with our souls?
It would be a terrible thing to go through life trusting in a religion, church or organisation, hoping it will earn us a place in Heaven—only to enter eternity and discover that what we trusted was merely an imitation and could never save us.
Jesus Christ did not come to establish another man-made religion. He came to bring salvation to a lost world.
The Bible tells us:
“For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God.”
—Romans 3:23
Our sin separates us from God, and we cannot save ourselves through good works, religious ceremonies or church membership. But God loves us so much that He sent His Son to die in our place.
Jesus suffered upon the cross of Calvary and shed His precious blood so that our sins could be forgiven. On the third day, He rose again, conquering sin and death.
“For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus.”
—1 Timothy 2:5
The Lord Jesus did not come merely to condemn you. He came to rescue you. He calls you to turn from your sin, place your faith in Him and receive Him as your personal Lord and Saviour.
Religion may offer an imitation, but Jesus Christ offers real forgiveness, real hope and everlasting life.
“Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.”
—Acts 4:12
Will you receive Jesus Christ today?
You can speak to Him sincerely from your heart:
“Lord Jesus, I know that I am a sinner and cannot save myself. I believe that You died upon the cross for my sins and rose again. Please forgive me, come into my life, and be my Lord and Saviour. Help me to follow You from this day forward. Amen.”
“For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.”
—Romans 10:13
GOD KNOWS YOU
GOD LOVES YOU
GOD CARES FOR YOU
Please Read
Acts 4:12 • John 1:12 • Romans 3:23 • Romans 6:23 • Romans 10:13 • 1 Corinthians 3:11 • 1 Timothy 2:5
GOD IS A GOOD GOD
GOD KNOWS, GOD LOVES, GOD CARES
Written for Georges Web Ministries.com
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25th August 2016