The Original

​Growing up, the original seamstress in our family was my Mom.

​She sewed flawlessly. Rarely did I wear anything before the age of thirteen that my Mom did not sew for me. She made the whole process look easy from cutting the pattern to hand stitching the hem. I watched her sew garments from start to finish countless times. I was always proud to wear a garment sewn by my Mom.
 
In freshman Home Ec class, it was my turn to sew. Having watched my Mom so many times, I expected to create the same impeccable garments as my Mom. 

Nope! That was not the result. ​

Much to my utter dismay, the teacher held up my garment for the class to see as an example of how terribly crooked a zipper could be, if not sewn properly. I’m mortified to say the teacher didn’t stop there. On the front of my garment was an admittedly poor attempt at sewing trim on the center seam. Oh, my! I’d love to say that I, too, sewed flawlessly like my Mom, but I was a poor imitation of the original seamstress.
 
God is truly “The Original.” He wanted Egyptians and Israelites to know “that I am the Lord” (Exod. 7:17). He wanted them all to witness the powerful works of His hands and acknowledge that only He was God. To accomplish this, God caused several plagues in Egypt before the Israelites were freed from their bonds of slavery. 
 
When Moses and his brother Aaron first approached Pharaoh, God told Aaron to throw down his staff in front of Pharaoh and it would become a serpent. Pharaoh’s magicians imitated this and their staffs became serpents. Since God is “The Original,” Aaron’s staff swallowed up all of their poor imitations (Exod. 7:9-12).

However, the imitations of “The Original” continued: 

• Aaron struck the Nile River with his staff and the water turned to blood; the magicians turned some water to blood (Exod. 7:20-22). 
  
• Aaron raised his staff over all the rivers, canals, and ponds in Egypt and brought a plague of frogs; the magicians caused some frogs to appear (Exod. 8:6-7). 
  
• Aaron raised his staff and struck the ground and this brought swarms of gnats throughout the land of Egypt. However, this time when Pharaoh's magicians attempted to imitate what God had done, they failed (Exod. 8:16-18). 

“This is the finger of God” (Exod. 8:19), the magicians told Pharaoh. After that, God brought plagues of flies, death to livestock, boils, hail, locusts, and darkness (Exod. 8:20-10:23). Never again does it say that Pharaoh’s magicians even tried to imitate the plagues that God brought to the land of Egypt. Indeed, by the time the Israelites left Egypt it was clear to all that God delivered them with His power and might. Egyptians and Israelites alike acknowledged that God is “The Original.”
 
Where there is an original of value, there is often a flawed imitation; only God is “The Original.” 
 
Satan watched God perform marvelous works countless times, but Satan’s imitation of “The Original'' is flawed and ineffective. Just as Pharaoh’s magicians imitated God, people today do the same thing. An author may slip a Bible verse or two into an otherwise worldly book or podcast or blog as an imitation of “The Original;” a speaker may skillfully scatter godly phrases in a speech to camouflage an otherwise sinful message. Cults spring up that have some of the truth of God’s Word, but instead are imitations.  We must diligently use our spiritual radar to determine the difference. 
 
Even our imitation of “The Original” is just that. Though doing our best to imitate Him is certainly scriptural (Eph. 5:1), only God is “The Original.” He is the “Alpha and Omega … the beginning and the end” (Rev. 22:13). He is omniscient, omnipresent, and omnipotent. He is perfect in all of His ways. Beware of imitations: only “The Original” deserves our worship, praise, and loyalty. So, as we imitate Christ, be certain to point others to “The Original,” the only One with the unique ability to transform their lives.

Memory Verse: “No one is like you, Lord; you are great, and your name is mighty in power.” 
Jeremiah 10:6

About the Author

Hi, I'm Debbie Burns! I am wife to a very non-boring husband, mom to 3 grown sons who make my mommy-heart proud, Mother-in-law to 2 sweet daughter-in-loves, and Mimi to 3 adorable grand blessings. I have taught since I was 6-years-old, but professionally I've taught for just over 40 years. Not only do I love to teach, but I love to learn. God teaches me through His Word, nature, and the people around me every day. My life goal is to leave a legacy of faith.