Identity Theft

By: Keefe Wilson

Saturday, December 21, 2024

The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life and have it to the full. John 10:10

Have you ever faced credit card fraud or identity theft? I have—and it's a nightmare! One night, I got an email at 2 AM asking me to confirm a cryptocurrency purchase I never made. Moments later, another email said my wife's loan application was approved, followed by a booking confirmation for a hotel room in Tokyo. That's when we knew our identity had been stolen.

Those identity thieves were relentless. For five sleepless days, we scrambled to freeze cards and shut down accounts while those cyber thieves tried to ruin our credit and reputation. Then, a close friend recommended an identity theft protection service called LifeLock. We quickly signed up, and the attacks stopped. What a relief! Identity theft is rampant in our digital age, but a more dangerous (and subtle) form of identity theft happens in the spiritual realm.

The devil is constantly and actively working to steal our identity in Christ. In John 10:10, Jesus gives a strong warning about our enemy's intentions. Satan's goals are to disrupt our relationship with God, distort what we believe about our Christian identity, and to distract us from experiencing the fullness of Christian life. Satan uses deception, fear, guilt, and shame to achieve his goals. If we're not well prepared, Satan's attacks cause us to question our self-worth, doubt God's love and forgiveness, and misunderstand our position in God's kingdom. To protect our spiritual identity, we must recognize, resist, and repel his attacks. Christ follower, don't let the enemy steal your spiritual identity!

How do we stop Satan from stealing our identity? First, we must activate our spiritual "life-lock" by protecting our hearts (Proverbs 4:23). Next, we must be aware of his tactics, and alert to his schemes. Finally, we must regularly read and meditate on the scriptures to remind ourselves who we are in Christ.

Don't let the enemy steal what God has given you. Protect your spiritual identity by standing firm on the promises found in God's Word. When Satan tries to plant seeds of doubt or insecurity, fight back by remembering (and quoting) bible verses like this:

Yet to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God. John 1:12

As believers, our identity is protected, safe, and secure through Jesus. Satan can't steal our identity in Christ unless we allow him to. Embrace your identity in Christ, and be sure to enjoy the abundant life Jesus promised us!