FAKE BAGS

While researching for an article she was writing for MSN Money, Elizabeth Strott went to New York’s Chinatown to see how difficult it would be to buy a “knock off” of a famous brand name handbag or wallet.  Since the counterfeit industry costs legitimate businesses over $650 billion a year she wanted to see how easy it would be to purchase a “fake” bag.  

     After shopping for awhile she was approached by a man who claimed to have what she wanted – bags that looked just like famous brand names but without the high cost. She followed him to a shop a few blocks away and into a back room. Evidently, this is something that an eager buyer would do. I guess adults on the street forget that rule about not going somewhere with a stranger. When Americans want to buy something badly enough, we can lose all discernment – and go into a back room!  With a stranger!  In New York City!   

     Here is what she wrote about what happened next. “Once we were inside, the door was shut behind us, and we were locked in with hundreds of counterfeit handbags and wallets and a handful of shoppers. A counterfeit Gucci bag went for $80; a real one can cost $750. A counterfeit Louis Vuitton wallet was $60; the real deal goes for $535.  It felt creepy to be locked in a small room with frantic women bargaining for bags, but it didn't seem to bother the shoppers.”  

     Under any other setting most people would panic if they were shut into a strange room with strangers, but when the room is full of things they want it can be difficult to sense the danger. Strott’s article included a comment from Andrew Oberfeldt, the president of Abacus Security, about her shopping experience, "There's always a danger when people go into back rooms to buy goods. People take incredible risks for very little value." 

     The facts that most consumers cannot distinguish between a fake and the real thing and that they are driven by a hunger for a great deal are what these merchants count on. This deceitful dynamic is duplicated in the world of modern religious thought by those who hawk a fake gospel that looks and sounds good, but has very little value. Americans seem highly susceptible to a watered-down gospel that costs its adherents nothing – no true sorrow, no repentance, no devotion, no knowledge of the Biblical God.  People following these preachers into their “shops” have no idea what they are risking and what danger they are in.  They are too busy shopping for a great deal on religion.

      The Bible tells us that salvation is a gift, and that only One Man could pay the cost to acquire it for us. Even though He was sinless, righteous, and Divine He had to die on a cross to obtain our salvation.  It was this cross He was referring to when He said, “If any man desires to come after Me, let him take up his cross and follow Me.”  Paul told us to “present our bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God” and to “flee youthful lusts” and “follow after” righteousness.  Both Testaments contain the words of the Lord, “Be you holy as I am holy.”  Salvation is yours at no cost to you, but being a disciple will cost you greatly. Faithfulness to the Lord carries a hefty price tag.

      If you are window shopping the wares of the gospel counterfeiters, you should remind yourself that the Almighty Creator does not live to serve us, we are to live to serve Him.  Solomon wrote, “Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter.  Fear God and keep His commandments for this is the whole duty of man.”   The new gospel being preached today may look fun, feel exciting, and sound spiritual, but if does not make you fall on your face before Holy God and repent of your sin, it is just a “knock off” of the real thing.  Don’t take the risk, your eternal destiny is at stake.

Matthew 13:45-46

Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant seeking beautiful pearls, who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had and bought it.