If anyone says, 'Here is...
Illustration
"If anyone says, 'Here is Christ' or 'There he is,' do not believe him."
An amusing story is told of an event in a Pennsylvania town a couple of generations ago. A stranger appeared and rented the opera house for one night. About a month before the date for which he had rented the hall, he put a large sign on the most prominent billboard in town, stating in huge letters, "He is coming!" A week before the fateful night, this was replaced by: "He will be at the opera house on October 31!" The day before the event, there was the simple statement: "He is here!" The following morning: "He will be at the opera house tonight at 8:30!" That night the stranger himself sat in the box office and sold tickets to a capacity audience. At 8:30 p.m. when the curtain went up inside, however, all the crowd could see was a huge sign reading: "He is gone!" And, of course, so was the promoter.
Jesus warns against deceivers; we ought to listen. Do you remember Jonestown? And one might add numerous other sordid episodes which illustrate the importance of Jesus' warning:
"Take heed that you be not deceived."
--Mann
An amusing story is told of an event in a Pennsylvania town a couple of generations ago. A stranger appeared and rented the opera house for one night. About a month before the date for which he had rented the hall, he put a large sign on the most prominent billboard in town, stating in huge letters, "He is coming!" A week before the fateful night, this was replaced by: "He will be at the opera house on October 31!" The day before the event, there was the simple statement: "He is here!" The following morning: "He will be at the opera house tonight at 8:30!" That night the stranger himself sat in the box office and sold tickets to a capacity audience. At 8:30 p.m. when the curtain went up inside, however, all the crowd could see was a huge sign reading: "He is gone!" And, of course, so was the promoter.
Jesus warns against deceivers; we ought to listen. Do you remember Jonestown? And one might add numerous other sordid episodes which illustrate the importance of Jesus' warning:
"Take heed that you be not deceived."
--Mann
