A thief comes only to steal and to kill and to destroy. I have come that they may have life and have it in abundance.
John 10:10 HCSB
A hacker is defined as someone who uses computers to gain unauthorized access to data. Lately, I have been notified by my website and social media accounts that I have been having some attempts to hack into my accounts.
Knowing that someone is trying to get into these accounts is kind of like knowing someone is trying to break into my house by knocking down my door. Of course, I would institute measures to protect myself and my property. And thank God through technology we can also protect against hackers.
There is a new job out there called ethical hackers. Ethical hackers are those who use their hacking skills for the good. They penetrate a system with the authorization of the owner to test their overall security.
I often tell you that the Christian life is not easy. There are no guarantees of rose gardens, rainbows, or lollipops. But God does guarantee His protection. In Psalm 91 we learn of God’s protection in many circumstances. In verse 1 we see that we must choose to reside in the shelter God provides if we want to live under His shadow or His protection.
When we choose to accept Christ as our Savior, we must always be mindful that there will be those who will hate us simply because we are Christians. Some will persecute us because we love the Lord. Some are evil and selfish and want to destroy us.
This is why Jesus warned of the thief in our Scripture passage for today. In verse 9, Jesus says, “I am the door, if anyone enters by Me, he will be saved and will come in and go out and find pasture.” Our salvation is through Jesus Christ. Our protection is through Jesus Christ.
In John 14:6, Jesus says, “I am the way, the truth, and the life and no one comes to the Father except through Me.” Jesus and only Jesus saves. We must trust in Him.
Trusting in Jesus, however, is not for the weak. There will be attacks from hackers or thieves. They will come to steal your joy. They will do all they can to kill your enthusiasm for the Lord. They want to destroy your witness.
Hackers are often thieves who penetrate a system to get personal information to steal from others. Sometimes they simply want to destroy a person’s reputation.
Just as certain software or programs provide armor or protection for websites, God provides armor for His children. His armor is found in Ephesians 6:10-18. He provides it, but we must choose to put it on each day. Verse 11 says, “Put on the full armor of God so that you can stand against the tactics of the Devil.” Truth is to be worn like a belt, righteousness like armor on the chest, feet sandaled with readiness for the gospel of peace. We are told in verse 16 that in every situation we should take the shield of faith because with it we can extinguish the flaming arrows of the evil one.
We should always wear the helmet of salvation and carry the sword of the Spirit which is God’s word. Paul also encourages us to pray at all times and stay alert.
If you feel like your life is being hacked and the thief is pounding on your door, turn to Jesus. He is there to save you. You may go through rocky times but remember He has conquered sin and death. He will help you get through this. He can provide a firewall of protection.
Have a great day!