There’s a bird that lives in the bush next to our house and it has quite the skill for mimicking noises it hears. Whether that’s other birds and animals, alarm clocks, noises from the nearby skate park, mobile phones or even screaming children…

According to my friend Google, mimicry is “the action or skill of imitating someone or something, especially in order to entertain or ridicule”. It’s fake. It’s a trap. Mimicry makes you think it’s one thing, only to leave you wanting when it’s exposed for its empty promises. Mimicry never satisfies and it made me wonder, how often does our enemy use mimicry to lure us into settling for a fake version of the real thing God is offering?

“Why spend money on what is not bread, and your labour on what does not satisfy? Listen, listen to me, and eat what is good, and you will delight in the richest of fare.” (Isaiah 55:2 NIV)

We all do it. We all “spend” ourselves pursuing peace, joy, love, hope and much more in all manner of places and so often it’s the fake version we’re pursuing instead of the good, rich, real deal that Jesus is offering. Friends, we need to stop looking to wealth, health, image, status, careers, sports, sex, family, or any number of things to satisfy us. Because at some point we find out the bread was never really bread and we’re left feeling hollow and hungry.

Listen.

Listen to me. Only Jesus can satisfy. Only Jesus is the real deal. Only Jesus will bring you peace, hope, love and joy in a way that endures no matter the circumstance or situation. Don’t build your life pursuing fake substitutes. Don’t be conned by the devil’s schemes and mimicry. Don’t settle for what is not real. Demand truth, and then you shall have life to the full as you receive “the richest of fare” that God is waiting to give you.