The tag on the jacket read “genuine faux leather.” Seriously, right there in big red letters they wanted everyone to see, a declaration that this slightly leather-looking jacket wasn’t really leather.
The tag probably had something to do with some “truth in advertising” law, but they did their best to make the ugly truth look better by using a fancy sounding word – “faux.” Really? Maybe they hoped people would be impressed with their use of French, but not know that “faux” means “false.” It also means artificial or imitation.
We could call margarine “faux butter.” It sounds better than “I Can’t Believe It’s Not.” “Press On” finger nails could be “faux nails.” Turkey bacon could be “faux bacon.” The possibilities are endless.
Our culture is quick to accept substitutes. There’s a huge market for fake butter, fake leather, and fake nails. Unfortunately, a lot of people accept fake saviors too. Some fall for self-proclaimed messiahs like Jim Jones and David Karesh. But most simply settle for inferior substitutes hoping to fill the hole that only Jesus can fill. They try to find satisfaction in jobs, relationships, money, entertainment, or a host of other temporal things.
Jesus is the real deal. He is our only hope of eternal salvation.
“I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” John 14:6
“Salvation is found in no one else, there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved.” Acts 4:12
I want to share with you a small passage in Colossians that is packed with fact after glorious fact about the divinity and superior nature of our Savior. Let’s do a quick run-through:
- Jesus is the visible image of God. (Colossians 1:15)
- Jesus is the agent of creation. (Colossians 1:16)
- Jesus is eternal. (Colossians 1:17)
- Jesus is the sustainer of all things. (Colossians 1:17)
- Jesus has supremacy in all things. (Colossians 1:18)
- Jesus is filled with all the fullness of God. (Colossians 1:19)
- Jesus is reconciler and peacemaker. (Colossians 1:20)
Jesus is God. Only God can provide our salvation. He is faithful to all His promises. (Unlike margarine’s claim that it tastes just like butter.) Don’t settle for cheap imitations. Don’t be fooled into embracing temporary substitutes. All Jesus. Only Jesus.
What substitutes have tempted you away from the real thing?
A cheap imitation that tempted me away from the real thing is more of a concept, I think. I’ll try to explain. I got lured into believing that my physical self – being healthy and in shape – was what I needed to be fulfilled. It wasn’t. Only God fulfills. While the physical has “some value” it’s not what I need to have joy and so much more.
Kari, that’s a good example! I think many women today get caught up in that too. And you’re right we do need to keep our bodies healthy, but we must keep it in the right perspective. Thanks for sharing!