If there arises among you a prophet or a dreamer of dreams, and he gives you a sign or a wonder, and the sign or the wonder comes to pass, of which he spoke to you, saying, “Let us go after other gods”; which you have not known; “and let us serve them,” you shall not listen to the words of that prophet or that dreamer of dreams, for the LORD your God is testing you to know whether you love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul. (vv.1-3)
This chapter asks an important question: What would it take to lead you away from God? Would signs and wonders do it? What if your mate forsook God, or all of your friends? What if culture, or nationalism, or ethnic ties called you away from Jesus? We must never allow such ties to come before our bond to Jesus. We must decide, as the song says, “Though none go with me, still I will follow.”
For every thing that is true, genuine, and real in this world, there is also a fake. Counterfeit prophets have arisen in each and every generation. Some are so obvious as to be ridiculous and almost laughable. However, there are many who are more subtle and dangerous, and must be taken very seriously. These are the false prophets that at first brush seem to be speaking about the Kingdom of God we know and love. But be careful; it may be a test.
This verse clearly says, “God is testing you.” The test is of course not for God to find out something about you that He doesn’t already know, but for you to know, in your own heart, “whether you love the LORD your God.” The testing of our hearts can be very revealing. We often don’t even know what’s truly in us until it’s tested. And when it is we can see if we really love the God of truth, or if we are only looking for some new religious experience. It is all part of God’s plan to grow and conform us into the image of His Son.
How can we know today if a person claiming to be a prophet or miracle worker is in fact from God? We simply ask ourselves, “Does what they say line up with what God has already said in His word?” We need to exercise care and ask God for discernment as we examine the message of a spiritual leader. We must look at the message instead of any spiritual experience present. God is saying quite clearly that signs and wonders can never be the final evidence of truth.
This can be frustrating for us because we want to see, we long to sense, the moving of God in our lives. We would all like to have a supernatural experience each time we fellowship with Him, and God does want us to have a spiritual experience but not necessarily one filled with signs and wonders. When we seek the gift more diligently than the face of the Giver, we open ourselves up to spiritual deception.
Therefore, hold fast to the truth of God's Word which will allow you to stand firm when deception comes. Then, through none go with you, you will be strong enough to follow Jesus.
The Truth: "If you hold fast to My teachings, you are truly My disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free." (John 8:31-32)
