Identity Theft

Identity Theft

By

Elder Melvin L. Maughmer, Jr.

Gen. 27 1-5 & 34-38

John 10:10

No doubt we have all seen what I call some of the best commercials on T.V. They consist an elderly woman sitting in a chair talking in the voice of some man she talks about her truck with the Dayton tires, the mud flaps with the silver naked lady, and the fuzzy dice hanging from the rear view mirror, another commercial is a man sitting on a lawn mower talking about the finger nails with the diamonds built in and the 100.00 leather boostee’ he says in his female voice I know it’s wrong, but I am the best dressed person in the whole development. The commercial is about identity theft.

Identity theft is a criminal offense. It occurs when a person knowingly transfers or uses, without lawful authority, a means of identification of another person with the intent to commit or to aid or abet any unlawful activity that constitutes a violation of federal law or that constitutes a felony under any applicable state or local law. It is the fasting growing crime in America. Last year more than 9.9 million Americans were victims of identity theft costing them roughly 5 billion dollars.

If you have never been a victim of identity theft I pray that it never happens to you because it is a very hurtful and violating experience. I remember when someone got hold of my wife’s identity, they had phony checks and divers licenses made with her identity on it. Through this identity theft the person was able to purchase a computer, some computer furniture, and plenty of accessories and they had charged our account, why, because they had stolen her identity.

Identity: is the distinguishing character or personality of an individual. Your identity is the most important part of who you are. Your identity is the doorway to your destiny. No doubt you have heard the phrase your circumstances or your situation doesn’t determine your destiny, or your past doesn’t determine your future and that’s true; however, your identity differently does determine your destiny. Who you are will determine where you will go and what you can do. If you don’t believe that just try to walk right up to 1600 Pennsylvania Ave in Washington D.C. , you will see just what your identity will or will not let you do. If you have the right identity you could, but if you don’t we will see you on the news under the headlines strange man or woman tries to enter White House, crazed individual was taken away in straight jacket, details at 11:00. Your identity is very important. I remember when I was in the Army and we would have our Dress Green or Class A inspections, even though I wore a uniform that said U.S Army and a patch that stated the unit I belonged to, my true identity was on 2 small pieces of tin, that was wore under my T-shirt. We called them dog tags, on these dog tags was stated my name, my SSN, my blood type, and my religion, even though on the outside I looked like any other soldier my true identity was on the inside of my uniform. The dog tags said who I really was, it was my identity. It didn’t matter how well I ironed my uniform, it didn’t matter how well I shinned my shoes. It didn’t matter if everything else was dress right dress, if I didn’t have on my identity tags it was all in vain, why, because that was my identity. That said who I was, the uniform said who I belonged to, but those dog tags said who I really was.

Identity theft is a very serious issue. Statistics state that every 79 seconds in America there is an identity theft victim. Technology has caused the prediction that in a few years there will be a massive identity theft crisis in our nation.

The terrible thing about identity theft is you can spend your whole life building your credit, building your positive identity and in one moment somebody steals your identity and your future is destroyed.

The same thing happens in the spiritual realm. You can spend your entire life building your spiritual identity but in one moment the devil steals your identity and you find yourself in a situation that you didn’t even realize why because your identity has been stolen.

We find in our text the first documented case of identity theft. The story goes Isaac, the promised son of Abraham was now old, he was about 138 years old and his eyes were dim so that he could not see. We call this condition today cataracts. So he called for his eldest son Esau that he my bless him. Understand that the first born son received a special blessing, he received a double portion because it literally was his responsibility to take care of the family after the death of the father. The eldest son was responsible for carrying on the traditions, customs, and occupation of the family. He was responsible for making the decisions that would affect the family; therefore, he would receive a double portion blessing because of the responsibilities that were to be placed upon him after the death of his father.