A 14-year-old boy was arrested for impersonating a sheriff’s deputy in Victorville, California. According to surveillance cameras and residents’ reports, it seems that this pretend “cop” spent a very busy Monday evening!
Driving up to one home in a white Ford Explorer, outfitted with blue and red lights flashing inside the windshield, he strode up to the front door. He was dressed in the full uniform of a San Bernardino County sheriff’s deputy, complete with a holster and gun. When the homeowner came to the front door, he asked, “Is there a domestic disturbance here?” She promptly informed him that everything was fine. Then when the rest of her family came up behind her, he turned around and took off in a big hurry. Thinking the incident was very strange, she immediately called the Victorville Police Department.
But that wasn’t all that this pretend cop did that evening. He drove to another home, activating his blue and red flashing lights. When a 16-year-old boy came out of the home, he told him that he was inquiring about a report of domestic violence. The boy told him that he knew nothing about it, so he then drove away.
Surveillance cameras also showed him conducting a traffic stop, pulling over a lady in a red car. He then took her information, pretended to “run” it, and then told her she was free to go!
The next day, a local detective ran a real traffic stop when he spotted a white SUV matching the homeowner’s description. Inside was the registered 77-year-old owner of the vehicle and the suspect. It turned out that the driver was the 14-year-old boy’s great-grandmother. It also turned out that the boy was on probation. When police inspected their home, they found a pile of incriminating evidence. There was the sheriff’s deputy’s uniform that police believe the boy had worn the night before. There were radios, scanners and bullet proof vests. There were several different patches, along with a variety of replica firearms ... all of it was fake! Along with this fake arsenal was a pile of counterfeit money.
A Serious Crime?
Some might be tempted to think that what this boy did wasn’t really that bad. After all, he didn’t hurt anybody. But this is not the truth! First of all, he wasn’t even old enough to drive and did not even have a driver’s license. Second, it is a felony to impersonate an officer of the law. What about distressing all of the people that he interacted with? It is not a pleasant experience to be pulled over for a traffic stop, even if you are told everything’s OK. Finally, what if he had happened upon a scene of domestic violence or a situation where a real officer of the law was needed? His fake gun and badge would have been of no help to anyone then!
Yet people are deceived every day as to the true way to God and salvation. Satan deceives people into thinking that their good works will get them into heaven. Or that they can know God through meditation, drugs, yoga, contact with demons or even a spiritual experience through visions and dreams. Great confidence is put in the powerful feelings of love, peace, joy and acceptance that come from these experiences. But they are all counterfeit! Satan, as the god of this world wants to keep mankind under his control and far from the real truth. He is a liar and a deceiver. He will give you whatever enticing experience you want in order to keep you in his world, and far from the true God of creation and the true knowledge of His love, forgiveness and acceptance.
Solid Truth
So how can we know God and what the real truth is? By reading the Bible, God’s Holy Word, and by dependence on the Holy Spirit. John 16:1313Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will show you things to come. (John 16:13) says, “When He, the Spirit of truth, is come, He will guide you into all truth.” When Jesus was speaking to His disciples, He said, “Sanctify them through Thy truth: Thy word is truth” (John 17:1717Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth. (John 17:17)). Jesus also said, “Ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free” (John 8:3232And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free. (John 8:32)). Free from what and how? We need to be free of our sin-debt towards God. The answer is found in “the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus” (2 Timothy 3:1515And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. (2 Timothy 3:15)).
God’s character is holy, spotless and pure, which means that He cannot and will not have any stain or hint of sin in His presence. God’s love was so great towards us that He gave His only-begotten Son, the Lord Jesus, to bear our sins on the cross and to die in our place. It is ONLY the shed blood of the Lord Jesus on Calvary’s cross that can wash away our sins. Not even ONE good work, thought or deed can possibly save us. It is literally impossible! This is because in and of ourselves we are dirty, helpless sinners before a righteous God. You could compare it to washing dirty clothes with dirty water! It simply won’t work. You need clean, pure water in order to get those clothes clean. Because Jesus, as God’s Son, was and is pure, holy and spotless, God accepts His payment on Calvary’s cross of our sin-debt. This is why God raised Jesus from the dead — the tomb is empty! The work is done, total and complete! Now all we have to do is accept it, individually, for ourselves. This is what the Bible means when it says, “Through faith which is in Christ Jesus.”
Look for Authenticity
There were indications to tell that this “cop” was fake. First of all, his car was unmarked — there were no official county or state logos on the vehicle. Another big hint was that there were no license plates — they had been removed. If there is doubt, you can always ask for an ID, look at a badge for their name and number, or ask to call a watch commander to make sure of who they really are. There is no need to be fooled by Satan’s deceptions, a false gospel or our own ideas as to being made right with God. God has given us all the witness that we need to know the truth. First, there is His Word, the Bible. Second, there is creation. Third, there is the Holy Spirit to speak to our conscience, if we are willing to listen to Him. God’s sure promise is, “Ye shall seek Me, and find Me, when ye shall search for Me with all your heart” (Jeremiah 29:1313And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart. (Jeremiah 29:13)).
All you need to do is to talk to God simply. Admit that you are a sinner and that you want to have your sins forgiven. Thank Him for sending Jesus to die in your place and take the punishment that you rightfully deserved. The Bible says “that if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised Him from the dead, thou shalt be saved” (Romans 10:99That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. (Romans 10:9)). Let Him control your thoughts, words and actions. This is the truth of God’s simple plan of salvation for everyone who will come to Him in faith.
Discovering the real truth is vitality important. Identity Theft presents the real truth about who we are in God’s eyes.