May 11th, 2023
by James Turnes
by James Turnes
Identity theft is a major issue in the world we live in today. According to IdentityTheft.info, “Approximately 15 million United States residents have their identities used fraudulently each year with financial losses totaling upwards of $50 billion.” But what if I told you that the number is greater than 15 million and the cost is way beyond $50 billion dollars? How upset would you be? It would anger me to have my own identity stolen, but what about others?
There is an identity thief that is in our world and he is not just stealing from people who live in the United States, but this thief is global. Not only that, he steals something worth far more than dollars and cents. He steals eternity. His name…the devil.
The Bible tells us that God created mankind in His image. Identity defined is “the fact of being who or what a person or thing is”. This is what the devil has been and is robbing people of. He wants to steal who you are…he wants to steal your identity.
In Matthew 4:1-11, we can see exactly how he tries to do this. Before Jesus began His ministry, He went on a forty day fast in the wilderness. It was in the wilderness the devil came and tried to take his identity in order to steal His eternity. Three times Jesus was tempted by the devil. It is in the first two we can see how the devil tried to steal His identity.
Matthew 4:3;6
“3 And the tempter came and said to Him, “If You are the Son of God, command that these stones become bread.”…6 and *said to Him, “If You are the Son of God, throw Yourself down…” NASB
Twice the devil asked Jesus, “If you are the Son of God”. If someone were to come to me and ask me, “If you are James Turnes…”, the first thing I would do is go through some facts in my own mind to determine that yes I am in fact James Turnes. But what if I didn’t have any facts to prove that I am James? I would be left to question who I really am.
This is exactly how the enemy steals our identity. When we accept Christ we are told that we are:
I could go on and on. The bottom line is this…the devil wants us to question who we are. When we begin to question who we are, we begin to lose our identity. Our identity will determine who or what we will worship. Jesus knew who He was. He knew He was the Son of God. Therefore He did not worship him in verse nine and ten. If the devil can steal who we are in Christ, he will rob us of our eternity.
What are some other ways the devil tries to rob us? Comment below.
There is an identity thief that is in our world and he is not just stealing from people who live in the United States, but this thief is global. Not only that, he steals something worth far more than dollars and cents. He steals eternity. His name…the devil.
The Bible tells us that God created mankind in His image. Identity defined is “the fact of being who or what a person or thing is”. This is what the devil has been and is robbing people of. He wants to steal who you are…he wants to steal your identity.
In Matthew 4:1-11, we can see exactly how he tries to do this. Before Jesus began His ministry, He went on a forty day fast in the wilderness. It was in the wilderness the devil came and tried to take his identity in order to steal His eternity. Three times Jesus was tempted by the devil. It is in the first two we can see how the devil tried to steal His identity.
Matthew 4:3;6
“3 And the tempter came and said to Him, “If You are the Son of God, command that these stones become bread.”…6 and *said to Him, “If You are the Son of God, throw Yourself down…” NASB
Twice the devil asked Jesus, “If you are the Son of God”. If someone were to come to me and ask me, “If you are James Turnes…”, the first thing I would do is go through some facts in my own mind to determine that yes I am in fact James Turnes. But what if I didn’t have any facts to prove that I am James? I would be left to question who I really am.
This is exactly how the enemy steals our identity. When we accept Christ we are told that we are:
- Children of God (John 1:12)
- Body of Christ (1 Cor. 12:27)
- Chosen and holy (1 Peter 2:9)
- Temple of the Holy Spirit (1 Cor. 6:19-20)
I could go on and on. The bottom line is this…the devil wants us to question who we are. When we begin to question who we are, we begin to lose our identity. Our identity will determine who or what we will worship. Jesus knew who He was. He knew He was the Son of God. Therefore He did not worship him in verse nine and ten. If the devil can steal who we are in Christ, he will rob us of our eternity.
What are some other ways the devil tries to rob us? Comment below.
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