The First Identity Theft

Dear Friends,

     In 2003, 23.7 million Americans were victims of Identity theft. Some say that by now, that number may have doubled. Identity thieves are known for their craftiness and deceit. Those who do it face to face, first gain the confidence of their victims then steal what ever it is that they're after.
    Genesis 3 teaches the fall of all mankind. You remember, where Adam and Eve ate the forbidden fruit? In reading this story and recently preaching on it, it seems to me that they were the first victims of "identity theft". Our doctrines teach that our first parents (Adam and Eve) were created in a state of innocency. Because of their disobedience, they lost their purity and that very innocence. Though we accept that teaching as truth, let us not forget that they were deceived into disobeying God. Their Original identity (that of purity and innocence) was essentially stolen. This is identity theft.
     In order for a victim to recover from identity theft, help (the authorities) must come from the outside. You can try to track down the scoundrel, but even if you did, the authorities would still have to exact justice. Adam and Eve tried a number of things to regain their original identity but what fig leaves and hiding could not restore God could. He called to them not because He didn't know where they were, but so that they would have the opportunity to repent by responding to his voice.
     Thank goodness, that they did hear his voice and come back to Him. If they hadn't responded to Him and stayed hiding, I wonder what life would be like today.
     You and I were born with that same identity theft consequence. We were born in sin. We would love to be able to hide our way out of it or cover our lives with fig leaves. But just like Adam and Eve, no amount of hiding in the bushes of self-hate, addiction or covering up our faults with the fig leaves of good deeds and religion will restore that which we were born without. Our innocence, our true identity can only be restored by hearing God's voice as He calls us to come out of hiding and trust Him to be our means of restoration.
     What Satan, abuse, doubt, sin, self-hate and addiction has stolen, Jesus can and will restore to you. You can be reborn as innocent as Adam and Eve before their Identity was stolen. Jesus calls to you even now. Do you hear Him? He's all around you. Will you now get back your true identity in Him?