Yep, it happened to me last week. Well, not the total or worst having my social sec urity num ber and bank and credit card acc o u nt s hijack. No, it was a simple email that had an invoice from Pay-Pal for some computer virus software. It said that $449 had been charged to my credit card.
Yikes!!! Yes I freaked out and started checking out this mysterious invoice. It had a number to call for any questions. I called and a foreign speaking voice answered and asked for the invoice number and began doing some research. I then grew suspicious as he started asking questions he should have known the answer and asked for access to my computer. NOPE, HUH UH and NO WAY!!! I told him this sounded suspicious and I would get back with him. He was attempting to get into my computer and get all my information to my banking, credit cards and personal information.
After checking all credit cards associated with Pay-Pal, bank accounts and talking to a Pay-Pal representative (no small feat there in itself), it was determined it was fraud and I spoke to the fraud department, e-mailing them the info so they could watch and alert others who might be found in the same situation.
I then called the fake Pay-Pal back and told them this was fraud and they had been reported of attempted identity theft. The representative hung up on me. Go figure, right???
All of this was quite frightening and I’m glad it was not real. It also made me think about our identity, our identity in Christ. As identity is stolen in our lives and society today costing individual and businesses thousands if not millions of dollars, the same is true in our spiritual lives.
As believers, we are to identify with Christ. We are to imitate Him, we are to bear fruit because we are connected to Him (John 15:5). Yet, Satan is constantly trying to steal our identity.
How does Satan do this? How does he steal our identity?
I believe the first way is to get us to doubt our salvation. He will use our past and try to convince us we are so bad that we can never be saved. God could never love us let alone forgive us. We are just too loss of a cause. Or, he will take our current situation where we may have slipped (back-slidden), sinned again. He will say, “See, you knew you could not do it. If you were saved you would not…” He plays mental games with us.
Secondly, Satan will try to manipulate us with false gospels. You know, the ploy of there are many ways to salvation. It doesn’t matter what you believe as long as you are sincere. All roads lead to the same place, God. God is a loving God and will not send anyone to hell and in the end we all come to Him.
A third scheme is the one where you are not that bad. You are a basically a good person… honest, don’t steal, faithful to spouse, good parent and friend, haven’t murdered anyone. You are doing okay and stand a good chance of getting in Heaven with your good life.
Another one is the Bible is outdated and we are just better and smarter than the ones’ the Bible was written to. We have become enlightened, as it seems. We know best. We have made laws that legalize what the Bible says is sin (gambling, smoking pot, same-sex marriage, etc). If it is legal, surely it must be okay. The people leading our country are smart, wise and know what’s best.
There are more I could mention but the fact is those are all lies. If you become a student of the Bible and grow in your relationship with God, you will see through the smoke and mirrors.
Your identity in Christ says you are a new creation (2 Cor. 5:17) leaving old sinful life behind. Jesus’ words in John 14:6 says He is the only way to eternal life. Along with this, Peter tells us there is no other name under Heaven that we may be saved except Jesus (Acts 4:12).
Listening to the words “You’re not good enough,” is true. True in that no one is good enough. Paul tells us in Romans 3 there are none good, no not one and all have sinned and fallen short (Rom 3:10 & 23).
Fact is Jesus came to give life, abundant life. Like those out there hijacking your identity, the thief, they come only to kill, steal and destroy (John 10:10). Satan wants to take you from Christ. Like those stealing your identity and taking financially from you and literally ruining your life, Satan wants to do the same.
Don’t let him take you from Christ. As I researched and checked, stopped fraud and the ID theft before it could gain traction, do the same to Satan. Keep watch over your life, stay connected to the vine (John 15:5) and examine yourself (2 Cor. 13:5). Know that once you have been placed in God’s hand, nothing can pluck you out (John 10:28-29) and God will never stop loving you (Rom. 8:38-39).
Tracking My Identity Bro. Tim
