“You’re going to find that there will be times when people will have no stomach for solid teaching, but will fill up on spiritual junk food—catchy opinions that tickle their fancy. They’ll turn their backs on truth and chase mirages. But you—keep your eye on what you’re doing; accept the hard times along with the good; keep the Message alive…” – 2 Timothy 4 vs 3-5 (MSG)
People will be so thirsty from a lack of the outpouring and presence of the Holy Spirit in their lives and from not drinking of the ‘well’ of living water that never runs dry, that spiritual hallucination kicks in. In other words, they chase spiritual mirages. A mirage can be described as ‘an optical illusion caused by atmospheric conditions, especially the appearance of a sheet of water in a desert or on a hot road.‘ People will see things that seem real [but aren’t], therefore chase after it. It is always before them and at the same time they are forever behind. Their continual chasing always ends in failure. They are forever reaching but never reach. The NIV version gives a good reason as to why this is – ‘they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear.‘
Not only are people surrounding themselves with these teachers, but there is also a great number of teachers who welcome these types of people for the appreciation of man appeals to them more than the approval of Almighty God. There are and will be people who choose to eat the stale bread of the teachers who gladly offer it to them. I am frightened to know that there are many who believe they are filled with truth but are living in spiritual malnutrition.
Jesus said:
‘Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.’ – Matthew 5 vs 6 (NIV)
I encourage and challenge you to chase the Message and keep it alive. Only the whole truth of the Gospel of the Message of Jesus Christ in you truly satisfies. How you do that is to be in the word of God day and night allowing it to transform you daily into the likeness of Jesus. This is being satisfied with the real thing.
Jesus also said of himself and the living water he offers:
“I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.” – John 6 vs 35 (NIV)
“…whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give them will become in them a spring of water welling up to eternal life.” – John 4 vs 14 (NIV)
Forsake the fantasies of a false gospel and eat and drink of Jesus Christ only.
Consider
What are the atmospheric conditions of my life currently, and do they manifest a mirage or the Message?
What changes do I need to make today in order to keep the Message alive and to stop chasing spiritual mirages?
Scriptures for further reading – 2 Timothy 4:3-5 (MSG) / John 4:1-14 (NIV) / John 6:25-59 (NIV) / 1 Timothy 4:7 (NIV) / Isaiah 44:3 (NIV)
About the author : Jarrod Moore
Jarrod is a passionate follower of Jesus Christ, who is fully devoted to the Word of God. Jarrod is married to Tamzyn and together they have one awesome boy, Malachi Josiah.
“Sin provides the sort of pleasure a parched man feels when he sees a mirage of water. He feels a thrill of hope, yet in the end disappointment only amplifies the emptiness.” – Quote from a Desiring God article