The thief comes only
to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full. John 10:10
Steal: take (another person's property) without permission or
legal right and without intending to return it.
Kill: 1 to
cause the death of (a person, animal, or other living thing.)
2 To put an end to, or cause the
failure or defeat of a thing.
Destroy: 1 put an
end to the existence of (something) by damaging or attacking it.
2 ruin
(someone)
emotionally or spiritually
Of
all the times that I had read this scripture, the way that I understood what it
is ACTUALLY saying, was flawed, as I believe many people have also viewed this
passage. It would seem that first, there are different levels of consequence
when it comes to the way that satan attempts to approach us. This could not be
further from the truth!! No matter the difference in verbiage, the common
denominator with all three of these terms is FINALITY.
If
one were to try to put these words in order, in terms of (seeming) severity, I
imagine kill and destroy might tie for first place, then stealing. In fact,
each term was specifically used by Jesus to illustrate an inherent danger, of identical
magnitude!
It
goes like this. If Satan can steal from you, whether it is your purpose, your
destiny, your direction, your fire, your zeal, or your material possessions, he
has no need to physically kill you anyway. You’re ALREADY dead to him… you are
not affecting the kingdom of darkness. This paints stealing in a much more ominous
light… Concerning the other two, they are equally as malignant!
THIS
is the end game of our enemy. He wants
to eradicate you, or anything in you, or concerning you that will be of threat
to his kingdom! Some things can come by way of our physicality (what we see
before us), and other things may be of a more proverbial nature. All in all,
satan will use any route to try to invalidate what God has placed in you, for
His Glory and Greatness.
DO
NOT ALLOW satan to win!! He is limited in power, and can only touch you if God
says so (Job). Do not be IGNORANT of satan’s devices (2
Corinthians 2:11). When you
think he comes one way, he may be trying a multitude of ways to knock you off.
Knowing the ways he will attempt to defeat you will give you an instant
advantage. Hosea 4:6 says, “My
people are destroyed for lack of knowledge!”
Know your enemy, know
how is coming at you, and KNOW GOD’s WORD!! YOU WIN!!!
