ARE YOU LOOKING FOR SOMETHING NEW?

Mark 13:21-23

²¹ And if anyone says to you at that time, ‘Watch! Here is the Messiah!’ or ‘Watch! There he is!’– do not believe it. ²² False messiahs and false prophets will appear and they will give signs and wonders, to lead wrongly, if possible, the chosen ones. ²³ But be looking for this; I have told everything to you in advance.

to lead wrongly

Jesus was answering questions about the interval between his first and second advents. He warned his disciples that the church during this age would be subject to misleading prophets and false messiahs. They would attempt to lead the church wrongly.

Consequently, false teachings and misplaced emphases will occur which – if not challenged – could potentially spell disaster in people’s lives. So, Jesus warned his disciples to be looking for this kind of improper leadership. Any “new” theology or “new” display of signs and wonders should be suspect.

Unfortunately, the church throughout history has been too quick to adopt the latest theological or charismatic fad simply in an attempt to be relevant. We have not been diligent to obey Jesus here. Instead of caution about new teachings and experiences, we have developed a strong thirst for them. We have become intoxicated with them. Now, many professing Christians are addicted to the new, the flashy, and the experience.

God’s true chosen ones will not allow themselves to be led astray. They will not seek the new; they will cling to the true.

LORD, give us caution; forgive our flirting with addiction to “new” things.