There
is a program on BBC Tv called “Fake Britain”. The program uncovers the
fraudulent behavour of fakers and scammers in this green and pleasant land we
call Great Britain.
I
tell you, having just returned from Turkey, Britain has nothing on them when it
comes to fakes.
For
a while now I have been looking for a new watch. The watch I have, I bought at
Argos for £25, about 6 to 8 years ago.
It has had 3 new straps, 5 new batteries, the
date won’t move and the day is in French, but it keeps very good time, has a
clear dial and glows in the dark.
In
Turkey I was looking around the shops and the markets, there are plenty of
watches to be had.
The
shops looked great and just like jewelry shops in the UK.
Some
shops plainly and blatantly advertised “Genuine Fakes” but others did not.
At
one market stall I picked up a watch to have a better look. Within seconds I
had the stall holder by my side.
52
tl, that’s the price! He said.
But
for you today, 35 tl.
I
looked again at the watch, and before I looked up, in less than 10 seconds the
price had come down to 20 tl.
£6
British Pounds for a brand new Rolex Watch.
I
said no thank you and walked off.
I
wonder if I missed a real bargain?
Or
would I have missed every future appointment by a few minutes?
I
wondered if there was anything real for sale in Turkey, we were even sold fake
Saffron Powder, which we only discovered when the Custom Officer asked what we
were carrying.
Some
things really don’t matter who makes them and what they look like. If they are
cheap, and useful and we buy them with no expectations then OK, but some things
really need to be right.
I
would not buy a fake watch, whatever the make. A watch is not for show, it is for
telling the time and time can be crucial.
Time
is what we have to live by, we get up at a certain time, school and work start
at a certain time and if you are into Coronation Street that too starts on
time. Get the time wrong and it seems to knock your whole day out.
A watch is important!
If
people ask you the time they expect you to tell them the right time. There is
no guarantee that a fake watch can do that.
That
really got me thinking.
It
is so important that we as the Salvation Army get it right.
We
are so recognizable by our uniforms, and our uniforms give out the message of
the “whosoever” gospel.
The
Salvation Army has through its history been known to serve the lost and broken
in the name of Christ.
But
what about individual Salvationists?
If
we wear the uniform, we must be involved in the soul saving work of The
Salvation Army.
In
the military army, Soldiers are in battle with the enemy and some get injured,
and need to be rescued by others, who risk their own lives to save their
friends.
Jesus
said “by this, will all men know that you are my disciples, that you love one
another”.
If
we want to be an army, then this must be every soldier’s attitude in battle
with the enemy.
Are
we true soldiers, are we true disciples?
James
talks about faith and works, how the two must go together.
True
Salvationism is indeed a heart to God and a hand to man, but can everyone rely
on every Salvationist wearing the uniform to be living out the whosoever
gospel?
It
is as important as with the watch, people need Salvation, and they need to know
they can rely on Salvationists to deliver love and Grace
Uniforms
without the Salvationist heart is as fake as an unreliable watch. All show.
Now
what about toilet cleaner?
Well
one night in Turkey we had a three and a half hour storm. Amazing to watch and
it poured down for the whole time.
Next
morning we went out onto the balcony and experienced an amazing smell.
Turkey
is literally covered in Pine Trees and when it rains heavy the whole area is
filled with the essence of pine fresh. I have never smelt anything like it.
No
matter how much effort is put in by toilet cleaner manufacturers, they will
never capture the true smell of pine fresh.
To
be honest the fake toilet cleaner stinks and so do the watches, and yes Fake
Salvationism too.
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