Counterfeit Shadow

Published: February 24, 2019
Post updated August 20, 2023
By: Brian C Jenkins

Revelations 12 and 13 describe a period that has yet to happen in human history. A series of events leads to Satan, setting the stage for him to resemble God the Father, the Antichrist like Jesus Christ, the Son, and the False Prophet to be like the Holy Spirit. Theologians call this The Unholy Trinity. It’s crazy that no matter how ‘outside the box’ we try to think, we are still well within God’s boundaries or his Sovereign Rule. There is nothing that God is not aware of, and we can do nothing to go outside of his Will. God’s sovereignty is so powerful that the angels can only mimic what God has already created and set in place. The difference is God created everything through his own perfection. Life creates a life that involves no sin, no evil, no guilt, or shame.

Think about this for a second. Though sin entered man’s heart in the garden and the sinful nature became a part of all humanity, God still foretold of the way for us to come back to alignment with him, Genesis 3:15. Pride causes a person to begin to think they don’t need God; however, that’s not true. Unchecked, pride will lead one to believe that they are a god, Ezekiel 28:12b-19. The greatest sin committed will never be able to turn a person into a god. God cannot fellowship with sin. Evil can only manipulate into a kind of shadow copy replica, and even then, it is cursed from its conception. There is none like God or what he has done. If the creation creates out of sin, it will always and only be considered an unholy counterfeit. There is only one true and living God.

We believe the scriptures as the truth, the breath of God, 2 Timothy 3:16. We believe that God is all-mighty and powerful. He told us the end from the beginning, and we should strive to learn more about him by experiencing the Word of God. If we look into the Word as a mirror, the Holy Spirit shows us who we are in Christ. For instance, sowing and reaping. The Bible says that whatever we sow, we will reap a harvest. Growing up, when I heard this, I didn’t understand this concept. The first few times hearing about it, I thought, “I hate farming.”

Please understand me; it’s not that I have a problem with farming. It’s just when I was younger, I couldn’t see myself as a farmer. Naturally, I knew nothing about it. However, as I got older and more determined in my walk with Christ, I began to realize that what I invest in, I will reap. Good fruit or bad fruit. Blessings or curses.
See Wolf in Sheep Skin I.

*During my military years, I had a keen interest in investing my time in a particular way. Partying, alcohol, and females were at the top of my list. From a Spiritual standpoint, I knew this was wrong, but just like Jesus described in Luke 8:14, life choked me, and I became obsessed with worries, riches, & pleasure. I spent many paychecks doing whatever it took to accomplish my selfish goals. I would buy lighting and DJ equipment to make the experience in my barracks rooms mimic the club. I would buy computer equipment and hard drives to house as much music and movies as possible so that I can create a multimedia experience to supplement being trashed. I even bought multiple types of liquors and beers that would last throughout a pay period so that everyone who stepped into my room would experience a comfortable, fun, invigorating environment. I sowed into the kingdom of darkness. I was a poster board for bad & poisonous fruit. I sowed into sexual immorality, lust, and adultery. My tongue was radical and out of control. I had very little to no self-control, which was ironic because the military as a whole forces a soldier to learn physical discipline. God’s Word was choked in me with thorns. I didn’t grow in spiritual maturity, but I did grow in what I invested in. I was married, living single, with nothing to lose. A womanizer and champion drinker. A friend to the world. Once that season closed in my life, I realized it all led me absolutely nowhere.

I didn’t understand that, in essence, I reaped very little throughout my military career. After separating from the military at the end of 2011 into 2012, I tried to start my family. I was waiting on my separation pay, my last paycheck. My ex and I at the time were looking for a place to stay in North Carolina. When I finally received my money, which seemed to be a decent amount at the time, we went house hunting. The only thing left was to rent a place and get my household goods shipped to our rental.

I’ll never forget the day we finally saw the truck with our household goods. A sigh of relief came over the atmosphere as they backed up into our driveway. As the movers unloaded everything into the living room, I began to evaluate my situation. Something felt a little off. As the movers left, we decided to disperse all our stuff from the living room to the rest of the house. As we were unpacking, I honestly began to realize we didn’t have much. In order to get our family feeling like a family, I had to use most of my separation money to establish the house with little left over. How much more could I have been able to offer my family if I had invested more of my time and finances into savings, IRAs, Mutual Funds, etc. I left the military with a loveseat, tons of electronics, and boxes full of my ex’s stuff. I could have done so much better. What a waste of time. What have I done?

How much more could have been accomplished in my life if I, instead of sowing into my sin, would have sown into good soil. How much more could I have done if I allowed God’s Word to take root in my life and rebuke Satan? Sowing by the spirit is sowing by Faith, not by sight. I thought investing my time, talents, and money into women, partying, and alcohol would net me great rewards and profits. Instead, it cursed my time, talents, and finances. I definitely didn’t make a profit. Instead, I went into more debt. If I had lived by faith and said no to Satan’s schemes, the possibilities would be endless in regard to what I could have been able to reap and present to God, my family, and my community.

The lie was that the enemy used the pleasure of my sin to entice me to go by what I saw with my two eyes. If I sow into the things that ladies like, I’ll be able to sleep with many females. If I have a room that mimics what people my age consider comfortable and “hip,” then I’ll have friends who do the same. Jesus was tempted in a similar fashion. It was the last way Satan tried to tempt Jesus. He showed Jesus the kingdoms of the earth and told Jesus that he would give him all the earth has to offer if only Jesus would bow and worship him. Jesus said, “Get behind me, Satan, because the Word of God says Worship the Lord your God and serve him only.”At that moment, Satan fled.

We may have been in similar situations where we are faced with what seems to be promises of all kinds, all types of aspects of this World. Satan had enough boldness to try and tempt our King. You know he will try and tempt us as God’s Children. Think about this. You have to make a decision to let God’s Word take root in your life or to believe Satan and not let it take root. One way or another, whether with God or without him, something will flow from your heart and out your lips to which you will sow seeds. If you declare Jesus as Lord and recognize him as the one and only Savior and you feel like life is choking the Word in you, or if you are hearing the Word and don’t know how to let it take root in your life, or if you feel like you’re getting God’s Word but nothing seems to change in your life, I encourage you to pray and ask God to open your heart, you soul, and your eyes to the truth of who he is. Knowing how to fight when faced with temptation is crucial to the Children of God.

Will you choose to reject God and sow seeds that align against the Kingdom of Heaven by relying on sight, or will you accept the Word of God and sow seeds that align with the Kingdom of Heaven by Faith? The decision comes down to what do you want to reap at harvest time?

Let us not buy into the counterfeit but strive for the riches of the Lord that will never fade.

Thank you for reading my Blog. Please leave a comment and let me know how God has been blessing your Life. We currently have a group called Christ Seekers on Facebook if you need prayer for anything. We have prayer warriors that will not only pray for you but help if you need help, even if just to point you in the right direction.
God bless you and yours. Stay Salty!

Amen