JEREMIAH 14:14 : And the Lord said to me, “The prophets prophesy lies in My name. I have not sent them, commanded them, nor spoken to them; they prophesy to you a false vision, divination, a worthless thing, and the deceit of their heart.”
1977 millions of people lined up at museums in various cities across the United States to view the treasures of the tomb of King Tutankhamen of Egypt. Later, Ali Hassan, curator of the Egyptian Museum in Cairo, discovered some of the jewels found in the tomb were not genuine.
They were nothing but glass! When someone asked how this fact could go undetected for so many years, Mr. Hassan replied, “We were blinded by the gold. One just assumes that real gold and real gems go hand-in-hand. This is a case where they don’t.”
We would also assume that when a prophet claimed to speak for God he was telling the truth. But there are situations where that isn’t the case either. Certain prophets may bear the title and dress the part, but they are fakes. God declared that many of the prophets in Jeremiah’s time were speaking on their own.
While they claimed to speak for the Lord, it was not true. They were speaking on their own initiative and weaving tales to deceive the people.
Jeremiah’s day was not the only time when false prophets abounded. There are still many around today. Whether they go by the name of Jim Jones, David Koresh or Marshall Applewhite, they all have the same intent. Through clever deceptions they trick people into believing lies.
You need to be careful who and what you believe. Every teacher you hear, every person who speaks, every claim that is made, must be consistent with the truths of God’s Word. If they aren’t, they are the product of a false prophet.
Make sure that you test the spirits (1 John 4:1). Don’t believe something because it appears true; believe it because God’s Word says it is true.
BELIEVE THE BIBLE OR YOU’LL BELIEVE ANYTHING.