Statistics within the last 2 years show the growing risk of identity theft in the US, where cyber thieves gain unauthorized access to private data at your expense. 15 million people became identity theft victims in 2021, and cyber thieves stole $24 billion dollars. Oh, and if you’re reading this on Facebook right now, sorry, people using social media have a 46% higher risk of identity theft.
So, I’ve hired data specialists for $6.75/mo to monitor my private accounts and data, respond to suspicious activity, prevent identity theft, and if it happens to cover “reimbursement up to $1,000,000 for any stolen funds if your accounts are hacked or you suffer a loss due to an ID theft event, as well as expenses incurred as a result of ID theft such as legal fees, lost wages, and other out-of-pocket costs.” So I’m feeling pretty good about my data and identity security in a world of cyberattacks where I just can’t keep up with the threat on my own (https://www.zanderins.com/identity-theft-protection/).
What’s the risk of your identity being stolen? I’m not talking about your social security number. But your real identity. You. Who you are as a person.
Your cuddly cat or cute kiddos are nothing other than identity thieves if you’re not monitoring them carefully; so are your credit cards and social media accounts. Your job is an identity thief, your hobbies, what you watch on YouTube or TikTok, who you see or don’t see in the mirror, and finally your very own heart and mind will steal your identity—so you can’t even trust yourself to monitor yourself.
Do you even know who you really are? You need to be clear on this.
If I asked you right now, “Who are you?” and you can’t use your name, your job title, or what your kids or grandkids call you, then what would you say? If you’re not absolutely clear and confident about who you are, then you’re even less likely to detect if and when your identity has been stolen.
Try this: “I am a perfectly made child of God, connected to Jesus. All. The. Time.” That’s it!
Okay, would you pay me $6.75/mo if I guaranteed that none of the threats will ever be able to steal the real you and replace you with something less? If I guarantee that whenever your identity is being threatened or compromised, a trained specialist will step in and stop it without needing your help?
I can guarantee that, if you know and trust a storyteller named Jesus. He tells lots of “earthly stories with heavenly meanings” we call parables. And in them is your identity. So listen and learn.
This is where God says who you really are. Divine data stored in heaven’s servers, revealed in Jesus’ parables. Secret stories of heaven, their pages turning into your story here on earth.
“The disciples came to him and asked, ‘Why do you speak to the people in parables?’ He replied, ‘Because the knowledge of the secrets of the kingdom of heaven has been given to you’” (Matthew 13:10,11).
Here is a data breach in heaven, and the hacker is Jesus. See it here? Heaven’s secrets—answers to your prayers, blessings waiting for you, eternal thoughts of God, how to forgive and be forgiven, how to grow in your faith, leadership lessons beyond any podcast or MBA in this world, truths to change your life better than any stock market tip—Jesus grabs it all and he gives it to anyone who believes in him.
PRAYER: Jesus, tell me a story, and then tell me again. Open your Word and open my heart to listen and learn what your parables teach me. Help me find myself in you, and live as the person you have made me to be. Amen.
SPIRITUAL NEXT STEP: Work with your small group or some family or friends. Make a list of 5 popular fairy tales and 5 popular parables of Jesus. How are parables similar to or different than fairy tales?