Steal, Kill, and Destroy

I have read the 10th chapter of the gospel John many times over in my life but for some reason when I read the 10th verse again this morning it struck me in a whole new way.  I love that about God's Word!  It truly is alive!

This is a verse that I memorized many years ago.  I know the verse well.  When I read it this morning I had a picture of Jose Huckleberry, the man who has been arrested for being involved in Mom and Dad's murders.  According to the police report, he entered the home to rob it.  To steal.  He ended up killing and destroying.

If that were the end of the story it would be very depressing indeed!  But praise God, He has the last Word!  Many people have commented to me how wonderful it is that I am being so forgiving.  In my heart and mind right now, I am committed to forgiving.  When I actually come face to face with their killer(s) I may not feel that way.  So I am putting it out there now.  I want to have this foundation to stand on.  The more I say it and claim it now, the more likely I will be able to forgive when I come face to face with the person (or people) responsible.

Satan has used this young man to try to destroy Mom and Dad in this physical realm.  Satan will try to use you and me to steal, kill, and destroy, too.  We might feel great about ourselves because we have never physically killed anyone but how many times have my words struck like daggers into anothers heart?  I have to choose to forgive for I want to be forgiven.  We all have to choose who we will serve.  We may think we are serving ourselves but the Bible tells us quite plainly that we either serve God or Satan.  The choice is ours and those are the only 2 choices we have.  I choose to stand with God on His firm foundation.

We are in a spiritual battle.  This physical world is just a facade, a mere fuzzy image of the spiritual world around us.  We have to take a stand to live according to God's standard.  If we do not, we will fall prey to Satan's lies.  There is no compromising.  It will be worth it in the end.

In reading the different notes, journals and studies that I have from both Mom and Dad, I do believe they were very close in bringing another dimension of God's Kingdom to earth.  That is why Satan went to such great lengths to destroy them.  Even though they may be gone from this physical life, they are not gone.  Their work has not ended.  I believe it has only now begun in earnest.

John 10:6 - 10 (The Message)

Jesus told this simple story, but they had no idea what he was talking about. So he tried again. “I’ll be explicit, then. I am the Gate for the sheep. All those others are up to no good—sheep stealers, every one of them. But the sheep didn’t listen to them. I am the Gate. Anyone who goes through me will be cared for—will freely go in and out, and find pasture. A thief is only there to steal and kill and destroy. I came so they can have real and eternal life, more and better life than they ever dreamed of.

Choose to serve God.  Dream big God dreams and just watch what He will do!