On May 24, 2016, the Stock Exchange Commission filed a complaint revealing that a number of professional athletes had been scammed out of great sums of money by Ash Narayan. Reportedly, San Francisco Giants pitcher Jake Peavy lost $15.1 million, and Denver Broncos quarterback Mark Sanchez lost $7.8 million. Narayan secretly siphoned funds “using forged or unauthorized signatures.” He then invested those funds in a failing online ticket company in which he had a stake. “Peavy, [and] Sanchez…said “…they trusted Narayan because he was a Christian and represented several other pro athletes…”

There has been a persistent need in every age for true children of God to be very wary of the influence others have upon them. The Apostle Paul warned the saints at Colossae, “Let no man beguile you of your [eternal] reward in a voluntary humility and worshipping of angels, intruding into those things which he hath not seen, vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind” (Colossians 2:18). This chapter actually reveals several ways in which false religious teachers were robbing believers of future eternal rewards. Verse 18 specifies it was through the worship of angels. The Scriptures are very clear that angels are created beings and never to be worshipped under any circumstance. When the Apostle John sought to worship an angelic messenger from God, he was immediately stopped twice (Revelation 19:10; 22:9). The saints at Colossae were also being convinced to observe Jewish dietary restrictions and holy days, which have nothing to do with our present Dispensation of Grace (Colossians 2:16). These same false teachers, who appeared to be Christian, sought to impose the keeping of all the Mosaic Law, therein making Paul’s converts “subject to ordinances” (2:20). But Paul warned these members of the Body of Christ that following these doctrines intended only for Israel would beguile, or rob, them of future eternal reward. At the Judgment Seat of Christ, the Savior will reward all who have trusted in Him alone for their faithful service to His name and obedience to His Word. But reward will be lost by many who have foolishly chosen to follow things the Scriptures teach us are inappropriate for believers today. This warning implies an urgent need for us to be knowledgeable about accurate doctrinal practices and obedient to what Scripture tells us pleases God.

Are you following religious, or even sinful, practices that will one day rob you of eternal reward? Don’t let this happen. Chose wisely now. You will be glad you did in eternity.