The way we live and act can often be an indication of those we look up to. Often we choose to do certain things because we have watched others do those same things. As Christians, it’s important that in the biggest picture we do all we can to imitate and obey the Lord and not the enemy. Few would be willing to say or even believe that they imitate satan but their actions tell a different story. The Pharisees believed they were following God but Jesus said they were, in fact, imitating the devil. Something that can clearly be seen through their actions and attitude.
John 8:39–41 (ESV)
39 They answered him, “Abraham is our father.” Jesus said to them, “If you were Abraham’s children, you would be doing the works Abraham did, 40 but now you seek to kill me, a man who has told you the truth that I heard from God. This is not what Abraham did. 41 You are doing the works your father did.” They said to him, “We were not born of sexual immorality. We have one Father—even God.”
Nothing we see in this world that is wicked, evil, or sinful is from God. The characteristics of the devil are evident in our society. Including such things as greed, envy, pride, lust, anger, and hate. Anyone who allows these characteristics to be primary in their life is not imitating or obeying God. No matter what they claim to believe or what other seemingly Christian things they do. Instead, those who are known for this kind of behavior are following the wicked leading of satan.
1 Timothy 6:10 (ESV)
10 For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils. It is through this craving that some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pangs.
James 3:14–16 (ESV)
14 But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast and be false to the truth. 15 This is not the wisdom that comes down from above, but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic. 16 For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there will be disorder and every vile practice.
Proverbs 16:5 (ESV)
5 Everyone who is arrogant in heart is an abomination to the Lord;
be assured, he will not go unpunished.
Psalm 37:8 (ESV)
8 Refrain from anger, and forsake wrath!
Fret not yourself; it tends only to evil.
1 John 4:20 (ESV)
20 If anyone says, “I love God,” and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen cannot love God whom he has not seen.
Similarly, all that we see that is good and righteous in this world is from God. His characteristics can also be seen all through our society. Through kindness, peace, patience, generosity, mercy, humility, and love. Those who strive to exhibit these characteristics in their daily lives are the ones who can truly say they imitate and obey the Lord. Following the example, He gave us when He entered our world in flesh and adhering to the teaching of scripture.
1 Corinthians 13:4–7 (ESV)
4 Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant
5 or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; 6 it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. 7 Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.
1 John 4:16 (ESV)
16 So we have come to know and to believe the love that God has for us. God is love, and whoever abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him.
Ephesians 4:1–3 (ESV)
1 I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, 2 with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, 3 eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.
Ephesians 2:4–5 (ESV)
4 But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, 5 even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved—
Philippians 2:5–7 (ESV)
5 Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, 6 who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7 but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men.
Even the way we talk shows who we imitate. Those who speak good and true words that build up and edify are following the example that Jesus left for us. While also obeying the instructions given in God’s word. On the other hand, those who speak harsh words and lies that only tear other down are following the example of the devil.
Ephesians 4:29 (ESV)
29 Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear.
John 8:44 (ESV)
44 You are of your father the devil, and your will is to do your father’s desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks out of his own character, for he is a liar and the father of lies.
Jesus taught that you can tell who a person truly is by the fruit their life produces and this is no different. You can clearly see who a person imitates by the life they are living. It will be evident who makes a point to imitate God and who follows the world in imitating the wickedness of the devil. Those who breed strife, hatred, anger, sin, and are always causing trouble are imitating and obeying satan. While those who walk in humility, peace, kindness, love, and are making a point to take the Gospel message to all people are imitators of God. Walking in obedience to His inspired word.
Luke 6:43–45 (ESV)
43 “For no good tree bears bad fruit, nor again does a bad tree bear good fruit, 44 for each tree is known by its own fruit. For figs are not gathered from thornbushes, nor are grapes picked from a bramble bush. 45 The good person out of the good treasure of his heart produces good, and the evil person out of his evil treasure produces evil, for out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks.
Want to know who you are living like? Then simply ask yourself does my life align with how Jesus lived in peace and love? Am I actively living out the teaching of scripture and obeying God’s word? If you can truly answer yes to those simple questions then you are making God your role model. But if you answered no then you have been living your life following the example of satan and you need to repent.
This is not just a simple issue of right and wrong. Or a better way to live. No this truly comes down to a heaven or hell issue. Those who imitate the ways of the Lord will be granted entrance to Heaven. While those who didn’t will receive judgment. As the Bible teaches those who are kind and compassionate will be rewarded while those who aren’t will be punished. Even though they both know God. Scripture also clearly teaches that those who live lifestyles of sin will not inherit the kingdom of God.
Matthew 25:34–40 (ESV)
34 Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. 35 For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, 36 I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.’
37 Then the righteous will answer him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? 38 And when did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? 39 And when did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?’ 40 And the King will answer them, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.’
Matthew 25:41–46 (ESV)
41 “Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. 42 For I was hungry and you gave me no food, I was thirsty and you gave me no drink, 43 I was a stranger and you did not welcome me, naked and you did not clothe me, sick and in prison and you did not visit me.’
44 Then they also will answer, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not minister to you?’ 45 Then he will answer them, saying, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to me.’ 46 And these will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.”
1 Corinthians 6:9–10 (ESV)
9 Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality, 10 nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God.
Please don’t miss understand me though. At times we will all succumb to the temptation of the devil. We are not perfect and will at times react in ways that are more like the enemy than the Lord. That is to be expected because we live in a fallen world. When we do mess up and act wrongly in wickedness or anger we should do our best to correct our actions.
The point really has to do with our primary attitude and actions. As Christians, the majority of our time should be spent trying to imitate God. Not that we will always succeed but we purpose in our hearts to turn away from our past wickedness to live a righteous future. It is similar to what James says about those who make a practice of sinning. They don’t know God and neither do those who live a life imitating the devil.
1 John 3:4–8 (ESV)
4 Everyone who makes a practice of sinning also practices lawlessness; sin is lawlessness. 5 You know that he appeared in order to take away sins, and in him there is no sin. 6 No one who abides in him keeps on sinning; no one who keeps on sinning has either seen him or known him. 7 Little children, let no one deceive you. Whoever practices righteousness is righteous, as he is righteous. 8 Whoever makes a practice of sinning is of the devil, for the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the works of the devil.
Take just a moment and look over your life. Who is it that you imitate and obey? Is it God almighty who offers you salvation or the enemy that only wants to trick you into a life of sin? You make think you know the answer but the real tell is the fruit that your life produces. So examine it can see where you truly stand while there is still time to correct your path.
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