Growing in Obedience

Ferdinand “Waldo” Demara, Jr. (1921-1982) became known as “The Great Imposter.”

A Time.com article reports that “Demara worked as a civil engineer, a zoology graduate, a doctor of applied psychology, a monk on two separate occasions (Trappist and Benedictine), an assistant warden at a Texas prison, philosophy dean at a Pennsylvania college, a hospital orderly, a lawyer and a teacher — among other professions.”

Time described Demara as “audacious, unschooled but amazingly intelligent pretender who always wanted to be a Somebody, and succeeded in being a whole raft of Somebody Elses.”

So, how did Demara do this? By forging identity documents and faking his way through whatever was necessary to convince others he was somebody that he wasn’t.

In a similar way, the religious world is filled with imposters. Paul predicated this when he warned, “But evil men and impostors will grow worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived” (2 Tim. 3:13).

Paul also cautioned the Ephesian Shepherds saying, “For I know this, that after my departure savage wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock. 30 Also from among yourselves men will rise up, speaking perverse things, to draw away the disciples after themselves (Ax. 20:29-30).

In fact, Jesus Himself warned false teachers who would appear “in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly are ravenous wolves” (Matt. 7:15). To that end He proclaimed, “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven” (Matt. 7:21).

In his book, “The Keys to Spiritual Growth,” John MacArthur cites obedience as one of the important elements for growing spiritually. “A person may profess faith in Christ, yet live a life of disobedience,” MacArthur declares.

It is not enough for Christians to offer scriptural worship on the Lord’s Day, or be engaged in good works, we must walk a godly walk. The Bible identifies it as “a walk worthy of the calling with which you were called (Eph. 4:1). Not as pagans walk in a futile, darkened, ungodly life (Eph. 4:17-19). But to “walk in love” (Eph. 5:2). To “walk as children of light” (Eph. 5:8). To “walk in wisdom” (Col. 4:5). And to walk as Christ walked (1 Jn. 2:6).

In a single word this walk embodies….obedience.

You can’t grow spiritually by pretending. By acting like someone that you’re not. By faking it. By saying one thing but doing another. By wearing a mask. By talking the talk without walking the walk.

There’s another single word that describes the pretender…hypocrite.

In Matthew 23 Jesus called out the religious leaders of His day for their pretense. Their shallow religiosity. Their observance of rules without a relationship with God. He called them “fools.” “Blind guides.” “Whitewashed tombs.” And “lawless.” He said “they preach but do not practice.” He labeled them “hypocrites ,” because they were disobedient, religious imposters.

The degree of one’s spiritual authenticity can be measured by their obedience.

Jesus said, “If you love me, keep my commandments (Jn. 14:15).

The beloved apostle John wrote, “By this we know that we have come to know Him, if we keep His commandments” (1 Jn. 2:3).

To both Jews and Gentiles, Paul emphasized, “Circumcision is nothing and uncircumcision is nothing, but keeping the commandments of God is what matters” (1 Cor. 7:19).

Peter spoke an eternal principle when he boldly proclaimed to the religious leaders, “We ought to obey God rather than men” (Ax. 4:29).

Growing in obedience will draw us closer to God. Verify our identity in Christ. Aid us in walking in the Spirit. Produce the fruit of the Spirit. Encourage our brethren to greater faithfulness. And serve as a witness to the world.

Finally, growing in obedience will provide the peace of mind, and self assurance that we’re real. Genuine. Sincere. True followers of Christ. Not counterfeit Christians. Not “The Great Imposter.”

–Ken Weliever, The Preacherman