I shred all my documents. I rarely purchase things over the Internet because I don’t like all my personal information floating out there in space. I look over my shoulder when I’m at an ATM or when I am inputting my pin number on the pad at the grocery store. I do all of this because I’m afraid someone is going to steal my identity. You can laugh at my neurotic behavior but the fear is grounded. Almost 10 million people have had their identities stolen from them. Some have had their computers hacked into, some have had their social security cards stolen, others forgot to shred some important documents and dumpster divers found them and adopted them as their own. And it’s no little thing…people’s credit ratings have been destroyed, their good name is no longer good, and they have had to deal with debt they had nothing to do with.
My advice to you is to avoid identity theft at all costs and not only in the world of social security numbers and credit cards but with your true identity as well. There are people in this world, and forces operating in it that would like to steal the real you. Forces that would like to hack into your life and steal the things that are your birthright. There are forces that would like to drag your good name through the dirt and burden you with a debt you can’t get out from under.
As a child I knew who I was. I remember feeling confident that I was beloved, chosen, and beautiful and important. But I had my identity stolen…not all at once…but bit by bit. The first bit of that identity was stolen when my parents divorced. The thief came in and stole the part of me that knew I was the beloved by my father. The thief stole the part of me that knew it was chosen sometime in late grade school or early junior high when the kids around me teased me for my weight, my glasses, and clothes. The advertising world stole the part of my identity that thought I was beautiful. All it had to do was show me a few size two models and I let the thief carry off any confidence that I was made in God’s image and crafted together in my mother’s womb. I’m not sure if the next part of my identity was stolen or if it’s more honest to say that I gave it away but sometime around college I let alcohol steal my reputation. And the call upon my life, the understanding that my life was important, I know who tried to steal that…the devil himself…. he took my call, wrapped it in shame and condemnation and told me that people who had sinned like me weren’t likely to be used by God.
What parts of your identity have been stolen? Let’s do a quick test. So you can see if any of your identity has been hacked into or tampered with. I want you to notice how you feel when you read through the following list. Do you feel like your heart rises up and say “Amen” or do you find it difficult to identify with particular phrases.
You are accepted. You have been chosen by God and adopted as his child. You are united with God and one with him in Spirit. You have been bought with a price and you belong to God. You are a member of Christ’s body. You have been redeemed and forgiven. You are complete in Christ Jesus. You are secure. You are free from all condemnation. You are assured that God will complete in you the good work he began. You cannot be separated from the love of God. You are a citizen of heaven. You do not have a spirit of fear but one of power, love and a sound mind. You are a branch of the true vine and a channel for his life. You have been chosen to bear good fruit. You are God’s temple and his workmanship. You are an ambassador for God’s work .You can approach God with freedom and confidence. You can do all things through Christ who gives you strength.
How did it go? Is your true identity intact or are there pieces missing? If there are pieces missing then I urge you not to settle for the loss of your true identity anymore than you would settle for someone stealing your financial identity.
The Bible assures us that the desire of God is that our identity would be intact As we approach the Easter Weekend I invite you to enter into the promise that this weekend holds. Enter into the promise that anything that has been taken from you by sin, death, or the devil, has been reclaimed for you with the blood of Jesus Christ, his overpowering of the evil one and his resurrection from dead. Guard this identity…your true identity
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