Remember Monopoly?  I loved to play that game as a kid…I would get as much “cash” as I could and then throw it up in the air so that it rained “money.”  Now, anyone could look at those colorful little pieces of paper with Mr. Monopoly’s face on them and know this “cash” wasn’t real.  It was play money at its best.

I know there exists, somewhere in this world, an underground sect that produces very real looking, albeit fake bills.  Does the imitation begin at $50?  $100?  I don’t know and it doesn’t matter…a fake is a fake.

But I wonder, how can you tell?  With technology what it is today, I imagine the counterfeits can look very real.  It’s possible they could also feel real…smell real.  Does it take a specially trained eye to pick out the imitators?  Again, I don’t have the answers….

About a month ago, I sat across from my counselor in full confession.  Not because she is my priest…but she is my confidant and I trust her with everything.  When I explained a particular struggle, her response was, “It’s counterfeit.”  I think I was speechless for a minute or two and her words began to sink in.  Counterfeit.  Phony.  Fraudulent.  Pseudo.  These are just a few synonyms thanks to thesaurus.com

And this word has stuck with me.  Almost as if it’s literally stuck to my forehead in block letters.  When I feel tempted to take even the smallest detour from the straight and narrow, I feel like the letters start to grow in size until I could lift my gaze and see them with my own two eyes.

Counterfeit-“made in exact imitation of something valuable or important with the intention to deceive or defraud.”  (my emphasis added)  The last part of this definition makes me think of none other than the enemy of our souls.  The old serpent who knows our weaknesses and tries to thwart our obedience with his schemes.  And my friends, we have a choice.  We can examine the situation for the farce it could be, or turn a blind eye and proceed with the transaction like it’s the real deal.

So what are we to do beloveds?  The only thing I know to do is go to my Father.  “Help me Lord,” is my frequent prayer.  I murmur it under my breath all throughout the day.  Sitting in my car.  Preparing medications to administer to my patients.  Even during the mundane tasks at home.  Just whispered cries for help.

“The LORD hears his people when they call to him for help. He rescues them from all their troubles.”  Psalm 34:17 NLT

I picture a giant rope stretching from Heaven to Earth.  He holds one end.  By placing our trust in Him, we hold the other.  And we are tethered to our great Rescuer knowing He will always provide a way out for us.  It doesn’t matter what the situation is…He is faithful.  It’s not in His nature to ignore us or forget us.  He doesn’t have the capacity to be negligent or absent.

So…if you find yourself, like me, maybe tripping or stumbling along on the road to righteousness, know you are in good company.  And with our Father, we are in the best company of all.

For He hears His people.  He responds to His people.  We are His people.