It's 1990, around Christmas. The younger of my two daughters is 4-years old. She is adorable, she is beautiful and she is so very precocious. The holidays are usually slow so this was an opportunity to take the girls out on a movie night. We attend the original release of Home Alone. I can honestly say that movie made me belly laugh, but even funnier is when we returned home. The four-year old runs into the house shouting to find her grandmother. When she finds her we hear this, "Have you seen that movie, Home All By You Self"?
I don't think she was very much older when one afternoon she got in trouble for pestering her big sister. I don't remember the details now, but I do remember telling her, "NO! You will not treat your sister like that!". But she wouldn't stop... stubborn and precocious. So in my stern 'Daddy' voice I said, "What part of 'NO' don't you understand?". She looks up into my face and pensively answers, "The O". I had to literally turn and walk away my body shaking with laughter.
On yet another occasion this child is being rocked to sleep... and no, we didn't use the big rock. Her grandmother looks down at her and says, "You're so sweet, I think I will call you Angel". Without missing a beat my daughter looks up at her grandmother and says, "If I'm so sweet why don't you call me Jesus?".
The stories I can tell about my daughters' early life are filled with humorous anecdotes. But that last story has become a message that God's people need to hear.
Jesus Christ warned his disciples in Matthew 24 that many would come in His Name saying that He is the true Christ, and that they would deceive many. John, the Beloved, warned many false messiahs would arise, and that the spirit of antichrist was already working in his day.
Is that not true today?
This article serves as a reminder that there are many who come in the Name of Jesus Christ. They declare that Jesus is the Son of God. They talk a good game. They love the sound of their own voice echoing throughout cavernous cathedrals and packed auditoriums. That finely tuned persona loves the spotlight that emblazons their exalted presence. And you dare not cast so much as a shadow upon the holy one or, as one handler told me in no uncertain terms, "Don't steal pastor's thunder!".
These delusional megalomaniacs need that spotlight. They need gimmicks and trickery. With lights, loud music, smoke and theatre they provide great entertainment. They must sell that merch to advertise their glory. They beg for your money to finance their dream. And, demanding unwavering loyalty, they expect obeisance to the unique and subjective call of the Almighty, which they proudly hold as a holy anointed throne.
Take heed of yourselves! Don't be tempted to follow them, reverence them or sell yourself to be in their presence. If you do, and you attain a place at the private table, a seat on the board of directors, a special invitation to the green room, a VIP's chair on stage, or are told you must keep secrets, then don't be surprised when that antichrist spirit quietly whispers, "Why don't you call me Jesus!".