I've been cloned! - Joey Ferrell

Have you ever seen someone say on social media - specifically Facebook - that they had been “hacked” or cloned? What is usually being referred to is when someone (or a computer generated bot) launches a new account, duplicating your own, copying your pictures to use as their own, and if they have access - sending friend requests to YOUR friends.

It is NOT okay. And many times, you may report it but nothing is ever done to stop it. But, that isn’t quite what the subject is here today.

Well…kind of.

A month or so ago, guess what happened to me? Yes! I was finally a victim after over 15 years on Facebook of being cloned. It was quite funny actually because I have a long history of being a computer nerd and I even used to invite people to send me viruses just so I could break them. So, when I got that friend request - from myself - I was like…that’s cool. And then, like most others do - I went into panic mode. I knew they were up to no good. I clicked report. Immediately Facebook denied my claim. I reported again. Denied. Reported a third time - and now have messages coming in from real friends…denied once again. Kristie, my wife, said “I just got a friend request from you.” I said, I did too! Report it! She did. Finally after a day and a half and probably dozens of reports, I finally got an email from Facebook that said my claim had been accepted and the profile was removed.

Relief….sort of.

This episode made me think about how vulnerable I was, but not only me, those who this “hacker” was after. I just knew my friends would start getting requests for money or gift cards or crypto transfers (you can still send those to me if you would like of course). And, it pained me.

I thought about how prepared I felt I was…but they still got me. I thought about how much advice I had given over the years to not be a victim…then I was the victim. I thought about who could have done it - picturing these young foreign men that have been caught doing this to my friends when they were exposed and so on. But this was me! How could they do this! How could I let them!

Now…you may have had a laugh or a tear from that story, but let’s move on.

Did you know that the Bible wants us to have clones? Ha! Yes, indeed. The Bible wants us to have a clone or two or hundreds. Look at what Paul says here:

“Brethren, join in following my example, and note those who so walk, as you have us for a pattern.” (Philippians 3:17)

Some translations will word that to say “imitate me” or “walk like” much like when he as well as John reiterate in verses such as 1 Corinthians 11:1; Ephesians 5:1-2, 1 John 2:6, and the list goes on and on throughout the New Testament. So, you see, all “cloning” is not bad, especially considering the biblical advice we are given.

But, how do we do that, and do it in a way that is pleasing to God?

First, we have to be living the way God wants us to.

Colossians 3:2 says:

“Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth.”

It is a mindset, a choice, a way of life that we need to be focused on every single day - looking to Christ as the author and finisher of our faith. It is a pattern that we live - putting God above all else - seeking Him first! It is a desire from the heart needed to serve and please God daily.

Second, we have to do something else.

We have to be obedient. You see, those guys and gals that clone people on social media aren’t trying to clone “bad” people…they are looking for the cream of the crop, those who are trusted, those who are living lives that others respect and look up to. The Christian is the same way. Once one has been obedient to Christ in faith, repentance and baptism, she has put on Christ , becoming a new creature, shedding away - burying the old person with Christ in baptism. (Galatians 3:27; Romans 6:1-4)

Thirdly, we have to listen to Jesus.

We often think of it as the Great Commission. You can see it in parallel accounts in the gospels. Matthew 28:18-20 is one of the most specifics and carries with it several ideas of “cloning”. The scripture says we are to “go”, (can be read “as you are going”) “teach,” “make disciples - baptizing them,” and teach them to observe all things which He commanded us. It’s sort of a simple thought, but much more complex in practice. However, this is the command of our Lord and we must have a desire to do just that! Evangelize to make more disciples, live as an example to have ones who want to “clone” our spiritual lives, and teach His word to help them be all that they need to be so that someone else will want to clone them just alike.

Friends, it’s time to clone someone. It is my prayer that I live a life that if one was to clone me - they would be called a faithful Christian. Not an apostate, not a half-doer, not a Sunday only, not some brand of Christian, but a true to the gospel, obedient, faithful Christian. How about you? You ready to clone some folks?