Don't Be Fooled

September 27, 2026

In 1848, gold was discovered at Sutter’s Mill in California. By 1849, more than 100,000 prospectors had flooded the state, hoping to strike it rich. Many of these inexperienced miners were badly fooled when they mistook pyrite for real gold. It shined. It sparkled. It looked valuable. But it was not gold, so it earned the name “fool’s gold.” To tell the difference, prospectors learned to test it: Real gold dents when you bite it or press it with a knife, while pyrite cracks. Real gold leaves a yellow streak when rubbed on porcelain, while pyrite leaves a black one. Just as there is real gold and fool’s gold, there is teaching that is true and teaching that is false. As followers of Jesus, we must learn to tell the difference. In 1 John 4, John gives us three tools by which to recognize true prophets from false ones. Only believe what is based on the Word of God, exalts the Son of God, and comes from the Spirit of God.