Identity Theft...

Welcome to Monday, My Friends! Today is the second in a series of posts written by Kathy Ashley, author of Vitamins for the Soul, available at Sword of the Lord Publications. If you'd like to catch up with the first post in the series entitled The Identity Property, simply click HERE to be redirected. 

Now, are you ready for the thought for the week? Here we go!

The year 2018 was an unnerving time for me.  My family was still reeling from 2017: the absence of our firstborn leaving the nest for college, the devastation of Hurricane Maria to our island of Puerto Rico, and the four month evacuation living in uncertainty. The beginning months of 2018 were full of demolition of the destruction, the reconstruction of the devastation, and the recuperation of the loss. We also were struggling with the IRS and the self-employment taxes. I had called several times to the IRS but only got automated messages.  Then, one particular afternoon, I received a phone call from a number that I did not recognize.  As is my habit, I did not answer it; I let it go to voice mail.  Later, as I listened to the voice mail I became very anxious.  The Social Security office of the federal government was calling me on purported criminal charges?! What? Did this have anything to do with the problem with the IRS?  They asked me  to verify my personal information so that they knew my “true” identity.  Because I absolutely abhor anything with the federal government, trembling I gave my social security number. Yes, horror!  I know NOW that I should not have done that. I know NOW that the Social Security office will NEVER call you! Immediately, though, I did begin to get that uncertain feeling of fraud in my gut and abruptly hung up the phone.  I was being scammed. I was literally shaking.

A serious crime is perpetrated when one steals the identity of another; it is called identity theft.  To be the victim of identity theft is a horrible situation and a feeling of violation.  All the information that is unique to a person in the government’s eyes, the Social Security number, credit card information, debit card data, and birth date are used by this criminal to commit fraud and violate the identity of his victim.  This is a felony! Under the Identity Theft and Assumption Deterrence Act, it is a federal crime when a person “knowingly transfers or uses, without lawful authority, a means of identification of another person with the intent to commit, or to aid or abet, any unlawful activity that constitutes a violation of Federal law, or that constitutes a felony under any applicable State or local law.” (https://www.findlaw.com/criminal/criminal-charges/identity-theft.html) Our personal data does make up that technical and governmental part of our identity; if it is stolen, it can create an atrocious headache! That is how the government of our country recognizes us.

I Peter 2:9 tells us that after salvation we desire a better country, that is, an heavenly; wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God: for he hath prepared for them a city.  Hebrews 11:16. It is written for those of us who have received Christ as our Savior, But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvelous light: Which in time past were not a people, but are now the people of God: which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy.  I am a citizen of a better country, a heavenly country. For our conversation (citizenship) is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ as Philippians 3:20 says. We are children of the King, the King of Kings; our citizenship is of Heaven. The question now rises, “Can our spiritual identity be stolen?”

The answer is simple. No.  Jesus said in John 10:28-29 And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.  My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father’s hand. Is there any power, person, or plight that can steal our identity in Christ? The answer is still, No. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?...(and hasn’t these past 14 months seemed like tribulation, distress, peril?)  Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 8:35-39.  Our identity is founded in Him who loved us and gave Himself for us.  Our salvation was not of ourselves; it was all Him.  Therefore, if we believe not, yet he abideth faithful: he cannot deny himself. 2 Timothy 2:13. That phone call in 2018 caused great frustration and deep trepidation, for sure, unsettling as it was.  And, yes, identity theft is a grievous crime worthy of a just punishment; but, praise the Lord, our identity in Christ can never be stolen, defrauded, or scammed.  I am secure in Him. He already knows who I am and loves me anyway! Psalm 139. He will not deny Himself.  That, my friend, is security!

Be sure to check out other devotional thoughts HERE at Thoughts from the Heart.

Simply,