As a Christian, staying alert and vigilant in life is crucial. Like an unalert driver, failing to remain aware can lead to potential dangers. By introducing the Christ-like trait of alertness, you can easily avoid potential pitfalls, making it difficult for deceitful people, in and out of the faith, to harm you where Christian Character Counts.
Jesus identifies us with alertness; he was known for his awareness and attention to his surroundings (See the Gospels). This godly habit involves mindfulness of one's surroundings to respond appropriately. Alertness is essential in many aspects of life, such as personal safety, decision-making, performance, and cultivating relationships. As a trait of Jesus, all faithful believers strive to emulate alertness and are aware of false prophets.
It is essential to be cautious of false prophets, as Jesus himself once warned. These individuals may claim to follow Jesus and speak on behalf of God regarding love and the practice of life, but they are not to be trusted. They can deceive those not awake in their faith, inviting them into disastrous results through outward motives and selfish misguided causes. Despite their pleasant and harmless appearance, Jesus cautioned us to take notice; he said, "Beware of false prophets who come to you in sheep's clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves (Matthew 7:15).”
Recognizing false prophets in sheep's clothing can be seen and integrated through specific indicators. Despite appearing to be disciples, these individuals are primarily uplifted by their misguided interests and desires rather than influencing people to the best life possible through Christ, personally and collectively (Genesis 1:31 | John 14:5-14). These deceptive people discreetly guide people with hatred and hypocrisy rather than true Love and reliable truth. As Dallas Willard puts it, “The wolf in sheep’s clothing is the one who tries to fake discipleship by outward deeds (The Divine Conspiracy [pg. 275]).” In other words, inwardly, they are dog-hungry predators seeking who they may devour again through corrupt doctrines or beliefs and horrible outlooks on life. As Jesus warned, it is crucial to be aware of these fraudulent individuals and organizations and avoid them at all costs (Proverbs 4:7).
In order to follow in the footsteps of Jesus, it's important to surround yourself with people and a church that have your best interests at heart. This applies to everyone, not just a select few, and can help you live a fulfilling life through Jesus' grace and truth (John 4:1-26). It's important to be attentive when listening to messages from influencers. The good ones will encourage you by saying "God is good, you were created in His Goodness (Image), let's help you achieve your potential through the Good Shepard—Christ Jesus." Be highly cautious of those who say "God is good, you are bad, try harder." If the latter is your reality, it's important to distance yourself from these influencers as they may lead you astray. As Christians, our character is important, and, like driving, staying alert is crucial. Make the decision to remain vigilant in your soul where Christian Character Counts.
With graced and truth,