Reality check: What to do when fantasy disguised as 'faith' meddles with reality

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In today's world where information is at the tip of a man's fingertips, everyone can become knowledgeable about many things quite quickly. However, without wisdom and boundaries that come from the Word of God, even Christians tend to believe in the wrong things.

Some Christians confuse the mystical with the things of God. Some confuse God's commands and boundaries with their personal standards. Some even go as far as quoting the Word of God to explain their personal ambitions and desires. Fellow believers, this practice is not only wrong and sinful. It is also dangerous and could bring others to sin as well.

What happens when fantasy mixes with faith

The Bible tells us that "No eye has seen, no ear has heard, and no mind has imagined what God has prepared for those who love him." (1 Corinthians 2:9)

While it is true that God can give us more than what we could ever imagine, it is not right to let our crazy imaginations think of many "great" things and call them "God's will" for us. His will is still found in His Word, and if we let our selfish desires get in the way, we'll have a catastrophe.

You can personally confuse fantasy with faith. For example, when you start thinking that God will just bless you with money because you're His child, and then start becoming lazy, that's what we should call foolishness and not faith. Why? Faith without works is dead, my friend. (see James 2:14-26)

God will not rain down bags of money with Jesus' signature on them just so you could sit down and live the "good life." Think about it.

No one is exempted from this, even ministers. The early church experienced ministers who mixed their personal desires with the basic principles of the faith, and in the end started teaching wrong things for their personal gain. Paul spoke of these ministers, saying in 2 Corinthians 11:13-15, "These people are false apostles. They are deceitful workers who disguise themselves as apostles of Christ. But I am not surprised! Even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light. So it is no wonder that his servants also disguise themselves as servants of righteousness. In the end they will get the punishment their wicked deeds deserve."

Paul said that these kinds of ministers "want to make a good showing in the flesh" so that "they can boast." (Galatians 6:12-13)

Reality check

Friends, the best thing to do is keep yourself founded and grounded in the Word of God, just like a builder who built his house on solid rock. (see Matthew 7:24-27)

The Bible warns us not to happily put up with whatever thought we might come up or whatever teaching we might receive from another person, even if that person presents himself to be some minister of God from some place with whatever credential. (see 2 Corinthians 11:4-6; 1 John 4:1-4)

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