As children, no doubt, we all pretended to be cowboys, or Indians, or princes or princesses, or policemen or firemen or something else. We were so much into our role playing that we thought we were really all of those things, so we know what it’s like. But do you know what? There are two words that you will NEVER find together in the Bible, and that is “GOD” and “PRETENDED”.


We may sit in a seat at church for years and years “pretending” to believe. We may “pretend” to be a Christian. We may “kind of” believe in the gifts of the Holy Spirit, but having never experienced any of them, the best that can be said is, we “pretend” to know all about them. We can “pretend” to believe in healing, and maybe even be able to come up with some scriptures about healing, but again, never having experienced it, it’s just “make believe”, like some child’s game.

But let me tell you exactly how it is, GOD DOESN’T PRETEND! He is who He says He is, and can do what He says He can do. He created ALL of creation without any counsel or help from you or I. Well, let me back up here and restate that. In all my over 70 years, the LORD has never once woke me up in the morning and asked me how I thought He should handle so-and-so situation, nor has He ever sought my counsel about ANYTHING whatsoever. And I seriously doubt if God has ever needed your counsel, either. You see, although we as people pretend about this or that, God never pretends.
The Lord Jesus said this in John 14:1-17,

1 Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me.
2 In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.
3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.
4 And whither I go ye know, and the way ye know.
5 Thomas saith unto him, Lord, we know not whither thou goest; and how can we know the way?
6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
7 If ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also: and from henceforth ye know him, and have seen him.
8 Philip saith unto him, Lord, shew us the Father, and it sufficeth us.
9 Jesus saith unto him, Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known me, Philip? he that hath seen me hath seen the Father; and how sayest thou then, Shew us the Father?
10 Believest thou not that I am in the Father, and the Father in me? the words that I speak unto you I speak not of myself: but the Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works.
11 Believe me that I am in the Father, and the Father in me: or else believe me for the very works’ sake.
12 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father.
13 And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son.
14 If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it.
15 If ye love me, keep my commandments.
16 And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever;
17 Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.

You will notice here that Jesus never said, “Let’s play make believe; let’s pretend I’m preparing a place for you and will return for you, and let’s pretend I’ll grant you authority, so much even, that if you shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it.” No, He didn’t do it like that at all. He clearly stated that He is the WAY, the TRUTH, and the LIFE, and that He is in the Father, and the Father is in Him. And then He went on to say the rest. You never find God pretending to do anything. He just does it and it’s done.

How long will we go on wasting our lives pretending to know God, and yet not truly knowing Him? How long will we deceive ourselves pretending to believe God’s Word, yet not truly believing, because if we truly believe, WE WILL RECEIVE WHAT WE PRAY FOR. As long as we fail to fully believe God’s Word means what it says, and says what it means, we are robbing ourselves of God’s best. We can blame the devil all we want, but the truth is, it is we who deceive ourselves by unbelief.

Are you saved? If not, WHY NOT? Jesus freely sacrificed Himself to atone for our sins, the only thing keeping you from salvation is YOU! Are you sick and in need of healing? Jesus bore every sickness and disease there is, bearing stripes on His body, so that YOU may receive your healing. Are you healed? You are if you believe, but if you only pretend to believe, you’ll never receive it.

Satan is the “great pretender”, he thought he was greater than God himself, deceived by all his gifts and beauty, he rebelled against God and even managed to turn a third of the angels into disobedience, resulting in himself and all the angels that sided with him being put out of heaven and cast down to the earth. Here, they try to get YOU to “play make believe” with God, to “pretend” you believe His Word, so they can keep you out of God’s Kingdom and all His blessings. It’s time for you to “wake up” and stop pretending. God isn’t pretending, and neither should you. He has a WONDERFUL plan for your life here and now, and for all eternity.

Well, the devil has a plan for you, too, and that is for you to just “keep pretending” you have a relationship with God, so he may rob you blind, steal, kill, and destroy everything you hold dear. And that isn’t “make believe”, my friend, that’s the TRUTH!

Call upon the LORD today, right now, while He may still be found of you. Believe His Word, believe how very much He loves you, and turn to Him with your whole heart, repent of your sins and receive His love and His healing. God doesn’t pretend, He’s REAL, and you’ll know the TRUTH and never have to pretend again!