How can you tell the difference between the ‘real deal’ and imposter? One proven method is to compare a known truth side by side to the counterfeit. A fake twenty-dollar bill will be revealed to be different from the real one. A counterfeit painting will reveal flaws when examined with the authentic one. Jesus said: “You will know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes from thornbushes or figs from thistles? Even so, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit.” (Matthew 7:16-17)
A person can say many things, write many things, and act in many ways, but we all are known by our fruit. Think for a moment on your life passions, not what you want to be remembered by but those passions which actually drive your day-to-day actions, those that fill you with such joy. Is it not reasonable to believe that others who are close to you will also know your passions by your behavior?
Famed preacher Charles Spurgeon* put it this way:
“If Jesus is precious to you, you will not be able to keep your good news to yourself; you will be whispering it into your child’s ear; you will be telling it to your husband; you will be earnestly imparting it to your friend. Every Christian here is either a missionary or an impostor. Recollect that. You either try to spread abroad the kingdom of Christ, or else you do not love him at all. It cannot be that there is a high appreciation of Jesus and a totally silent tongue about him. Of course I do not mean by that, that those who use the pen are silent: they are not. And those who help others to use the tongue, or spread that which others have written, are doing their part well: but that man who says, “I believe in Jesus,” but does not think enough of Jesus ever to tell another about him, by mouth, or pen, or tract, is an impostor. You are either doing good, or you are not good yourself. Be wise in your generation, and speak of him in fitting ways and at fitting times, and so in every place proclaim the fact that Jesus is most precious to your soul.”
Missionary or imposter? It is a hard question for us to honestly face, but one whose answer defines our life and our faith. Recall what is most precious to you and bear the fruit you were meant to bear today. Go light your world.
“Unto you therefore which believe He is precious.” 1 Peter 2:7
* Charles Spurgeon, 1873, Sword and the Trowel