“So if anyone tells you, ‘There he is, out in the desert,’ do not go out; or, ‘Here he is, in the inner rooms,’ do not believe it. For as lightning that comes from the east is visible even in the west, so will be the coming of the Son of Man. Wherever there is a carcass, there the vultures will gather.” (Matt 24:26-28)
When He was here on Earth, Jesus spent quite a bit of time warning us about false prophets. Some might be tempted to say: With so much warning, so much direction directly from Jesus, how could we possibly be deceived? After all, Jesus is to come as lightning from the east, even in the west. We are told that Jesus’ feet will not touch the ground. We are told that “every eye will see Him”. What more do I need to worry?
But Jesus also says that even the elect would be deceived, if it were possible (Matt. 24:25)! Perhaps it’s not as easy as it might seem to distinguish between the true and the false! And if this is the case, then how can we know?
I believe that an important key is found in Matt. 24:28: “Wherever there is a carcass, there the vultures will gather.” A carcass is a dead thing that attracts vultures, birds which will not hunt for that which is alive, but goes straight for easy prey — that which is dead. Jesus is referring to a false prophet as a “carcass” — something that resembles the real thing, but whose true works are dead! A dead thing! And just as all carcasses draw vultures, false prophets draw self-seeking crowds, people who don’t care to take the time or effort to hunt for that which is alive and real, but will flock to that which is “easy”. Can we then say that by their crowds we shall know them? If the crowds are self-seeking, looking for an easy life, then could it be that this is one of the signs that the prophet is not of God? Think about it!
Lord, enlighten our eyes that we may ever be on the alert for whatever or whoever it may be that Satan uses to deceive try and deceive us!
In His love,
Lyn
Lyn Chaffart, Moderator, The Nugget, Scriptural Nuggets ( www.scripturalnuggets.org ), Answers2Prayer Ministries, www.Answers2Prayer.org