Beware of Imitators!

John 10:1-14 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that entereth not by the door into the sheepfold, but climbeth up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber. (2) But he that entereth in by the door is the shepherd of the sheep. (3) To him the porter openeth; and the sheep hear his voice: and he calleth his own sheep by name, and leadeth them out. (4) And when he putteth forth his own sheep, he goeth before them, and the sheep follow him: for they know his voice. (5) And a stranger will they not follow, but will flee from him: for they know not the voice of strangers. (6) This parable spake Jesus unto them: but they understood not what things they were which he spake unto them. (7) Then said Jesus unto them again, Verily, verily, I say unto you, I am the door of the sheep. (8) All that ever came before me are thieves and robbers: but the sheep did not hear them. (9) I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture. (10) The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly. (11) I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep. (12) But he that is an hireling, and not the shepherd, whose own the sheep are not, seeth the wolf coming, and leaveth the sheep, and fleeth: and the wolf catcheth them, and scattereth the sheep. (13) The hireling fleeth, because he is an hireling, and careth not for the sheep. (14) I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine.

One of the disappointments of being a consumer is getting tricked by an imitation. Of course some imitations are quite acceptable. For instance, the average person will not be able to tell the difference between name brand green beans verses a generic green beans. However, there are some things for which there is no substitutes. An example of this is counterfeit movies. Although I have never seen one, I understand that someone will go into a movie theater on the evening that a movie debuts and records the new movie with a typical ammeter recording devise. The next day they will begin selling that movie on the street as if it was released by the studio. Certainly that imitation is unacceptable as a substitute and if you fall for it, you will be hugely disappointed.

In our text today, Jesus describes himself as the “Good Shepherd”. He is a GOOD shepherd, instead of just another ordinary shepherd, because his sheep knows his voice and he knows them.

However, Jesus warns us to beware of imitators. He says there will be others that will pretend to be shepherds, but they are nothing more than thieves and robbers. How is it that they can be thieves? Because if we fall for the imitators instead of following Jesus, we will have the opportunity of REAL salvation stolen from us.

I know the average person is thinking...”what’s the big deal?...Aren’t all religions that profess Christ the same anyway?” The answer is a resounding NO! Notice a few verses that warn of the eternal danger of false teaching.

Matthew 7:15 Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.

2 Peter 2:1 But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction.

Don’t be deceived by an imitation! Follow after the Good Shepherd!