FAKE

This post was written for Five Minute Friday

Word prompt--FAKE

Five minutes to free write about it

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Fake plants and flowers look so real these days I often have to go over and feel the leaves to try and determine whether they are or not. 

To add to the illusion, some flowers (like my white roses in the picture) even come in vases that appear to have water in them.

There seems to be no limit to the incredibly real looking fake things advances in technology have made possible. Sometimes it's a good thing, sometimes it's not.

Items such as faux furs and imitation jewelry, for example, can be a delightful blessing to people who are unable to afford the real thing, but what a shocking nightmare they could turn out to be for those who spend a small fortune for what they think is genuine, only to discover down the road that they have been duped.

In our world today there are many intangible fakes as well, such as fake news, fake IDs, cyber hijackers who fake their way into computer systems to gain control, and con artists who phish the vulnerable by sending them fake messages or emails made to look like they're from a reputable source in order to get them to reveal personal information such as passwords and credit card numbers.

I'm basically a trusting person, and don't like having to always be on my guard, but I guess that's part of living in a fallen world and being in the midst of a spiritual battle  for control of our minds.

I am so grateful that God is in control and that He is always faithful and true. I am grateful that He can be trusted one hundred percent of the time, and that He has not left us helpless or hopeless. I am grateful for the spiritual weapons of warfare He has given us to fight with, and for the instructions and admonitions in His Book. Most of all, I am so grateful that He loved us so much that He sent Jesus Christ, His only Son, to die on the cross for us so that we could be forgiven of our sins and receive the gift of eternal life (John 3:16).

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Stay alert! Watch out for your great enemy, the devil. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour. -- 1 Peter 5:8, NLT

For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places. -- Ephesians 6:12, NLT

For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds. -- 2 Corinthians 10:4, ESV

The thief's purpose is to steal and kill and destroy. My purpose is to give them a rich and satisfying life. -- John 10:10, NLT

Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. -- James 4:7, ESV

These people are false apostles. They are deceitful workers who disguise themselves as apostles of Christ. But I am not surprised! Even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light. -- 2 Corinthians 11:13-14, NLT

For there will be greater anguish than at any time since the world began. And it will never be so great again. In fact, unless that time of calamity is shortened, not a single person will survive. But it will be shortened for the sake of God's chosen ones. Then if anyone tells you, "Look, here is the Messiah," or "There he is," don't believe it. For false messiahs and false prophets will rise up and perform great signs and wonders so as to deceive, if possible, even God's chosen ones. See, I have warned you about this ahead of time. -- Matthew 21-25, NL