THE REAL THING

By Jim Corner

            I was at the bus station in Douala, Cameroon. This country is in Central Africa. A young man approached trying to sell me a Rolex watch. He wanted $5 for it and while I do not pretend to be an appraiser of jewelry, I knew that something was wrong. I looked at the watch and it said 'Rolex'. There was one problem, however. A true Rolex has a second hand that sweeps in one smooth movement. This watch, however, 'bonked' along one second at a time like a typical quartz watch. I was able to determine that the watch was an imitation.

            Everyday in our world people pursue those things that promise much but deliver little. When you look at what is truly important; only that which has eternal value has any true value. We read of a rich man in Luke 16 that lost his soul because he was not a follower of God. In this life, he had much. In the next life; he had nothing but torture. Who or what are you following today? Is it the 'real thing' or a cheap imitation? Let me share some things that people pursue that will prove to be empty.

            1. Education. Now before you challenge me please understand; I am not saying that education, per se, is wrong. I am talking about the individual who puts his/her degrees on a level that places them above others. This is the person who revels in being called Doctor so and so. We read in I Corinthians 15:34 of those who were ignorant of God. Regardless of how much book learning you have; if you are not educated in the ways of the Lord your diploma is an imitation Rolex.

            2. Prestige. This can take form in many ways. It may be that I want to climb to the heights of the corporate ladder. It may mean that I want to have political clout. It may mean that I am the most popular in school or in my peer group. We see in Luke 7 that this was a problem in Jesus' day. He saw that many wanted to be in the highest place. He tells a parable that teaches the following lesson; be humble and allow God to exalt you. If your prestige comes from man; it is an imitation Rolex.

            3. Power. As with prestige; this can manifest itself in many ways. It may be the husband who can wield power over his wife and children in an ungodly way. It may be the class bully who is simply stronger than those he picks on. It may be the employer who uses his power to manipulate or abuse his workers. In Matthew 20 we see the Apostles in a power struggle to see who would be number 1. Jesus proceeds to tell them that the one who serves is the greatest. If you believe in exerting power; you are following an imitation Rolex.

            4. Money. I couldn't write this article without including that which so many chase after. I have found in my travels that the worship of money is not confined to America alone. In Luke 12 Jesus tells a story of a rich farmer. His harvest one year was so great that he had to build a bigger facility to house his crop. He concluded that his wealth could take care of him for many years but he died that night. The conclusion was that we need to be rich towards God and not be concerned about amassing earthly wealth. If your trust is in you wealth, you are trusting an imitation Rolex.

            Many years ago Coca-Cola portrayed itself as 'the real thing'. If you believe that; just take one out, open the lid and let it stay for an hour and then drink it. It's 'reality' will have taken a permanent vacation. We read in I Corinthians 11:1 that we are to imitate Jesus. In reality, we will never come any closer to being exactly like Him as that 'Rolex' was to a real one. The difference is that as we try, His blood cleanses us and we are the 'real thing'. Who or what are you imitating? Where do your priorities reside?

            We offer Bible lessons to those who want to pursue Jesus. If you want eternal life, it is found only in the Lord Jesus. If you would like a free Bible lesson mailed to you, please contact the webmaster of this site. No one will call on you and you can study in the privacy of your own home. If you desire contact with another Christian; we can set up a time to have a personal Bible study with you. We simply want to help you follow the one who can grant eternal life.

©2004 Buckingham Road Church of Christ