Step 1: Counterfeit vs. Real

Have you ever been in love? How did you know it was real love?  

I hate to admit the number of girlfriends I had in my teen years.  Thankfully, I’m no longer identified by my past! The accomplished work of Jesus Christ and my relationship with the all-knowing God of the universe through faith in Him is what defines me. And thankfully, there is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus! So, I can be honest and recall that I had almost a dozen girlfriends throughout the years.  

One time, when I was three months away from turning 18 years old, I asked a girl out and she said yes! I was thrilled. Kristen and I were officially dating. You see, I was a lifeguard at a community pool where the local swim team practiced and competed. This young lady caught my eye, and I admired her from a distance for quite a few weeks. She looked and acted so mature, I figured she was one of the assistant coaches.  

Boy was I in for a surprise! About a week and a half into our dating relationship, I asked Kristen how old she was. (Remember, I was going to turn 18 in just a few months.) To my great surprise, her answer was (and trust me, it’s burned into my brain!), “I’ll be 14 soon.” (Insert Surprise Face emoji!)

How had I started dating an 8th grader when I was going to be a senior? And what were her parents thinking by allowing it!?!  

In my teen brain and emotions, I initially thought these relationships were real love. And then I thought the next girlfriend was real love. And then I thought the next girlfriend was real love. And then… well, you get the picture.  

You see, what I thought was real love was actually counterfeit. The emotions tied to the excitement of a relationship and the hope of finding fulfillment for what was lacking in me at the time felt very real. But they couldn’t deliver on the promises made.  

Counterfeit is the imitation of something (often something valuable), created with the intent to deceive. I didn’t realize I was buying a lie. The world, the flesh and the devil were promising that pursuing something other than God would fulfill my needs for acceptance, security and significance.   

But God says that real love involves sacrifice. “Husbands, love your wives as Christ loved the church and gave Himself for her” (Ephesians 5:25). Paul goes on to explain in his letter to the Ephesians that real love involves protection and provision. The counterfeit I was pursuing had involved primarily exploiting and taking. 

So how does this relate to Step 1 as we consider The Steps to Freedom in Christ? Jesus said, “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.” 

The enemy of our souls uses counterfeit images of the real life offered by God through Christ. The challenge is, unless we are on guard and asking for help from the Holy Spirit, we too often chase the counterfeit thinking that it is real. This world will use the word evil to describe the horrors people inflict on one another. But you cannot have evil without personality behind it. If there is not personality driving it, then whatever the bad circumstance is, it is simply chance. Bad luck. (It’s deception and counterfeit to think that!) 

Step 1 addresses the fact that there is an active, personal, evil being who leads an army of deceptive spiritual enemies. And their goal is to get us to think, believe and live according to guidance that flies in the face of God and His word. They lure us by the use of counterfeit knowledge, power, advantage over others, or outright lies.  

As we have completed a practicum in San Antonio for the training of new Community Freedom Ministry Associates, I’ve heard multiple times how powerful The Steps are in allowing God time and space to reveal to our minds the deception and counterfeit we have believed. If we pursue counterfeits, not only is that an actual offense to God, but it also gives the enemy a foothold into our lives through which he can continue to influence us.

Consider going through The Steps. Give God the opportunity to point out any counterfeit upon which you have been relying. That’s grace and mercy.  

That’s true love.