Think Again!

24 • Think Again: Transformation That Yields a Return on God’s Investment

Part A Jesus said about the adversary, “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy” (John 10.10a). He is a pillager, a robber, and a murderer. He attempts to thwart God’s work and ruin our lives at the same time. Sometimes we miss the violent nature of the devil’s agenda. He did not come to “tickle, bump, and annoy” but to “steal, kill and destroy.” He is a vicious and powerful adversary prowling around for someone to devour (1 Pet. 5.8). His desire is chaos and devastation. He employs the arithmetic of subtraction , taking valuables away from people. He is the kind of bully who steals lunch money from a child or steps on a flower. He constantly pillages, manifested in rejection, sickness, interpersonal conflicts, financial problems, and wars. The Bible frequently refers to these as coming from “the world, the flesh, and the devil” (e.g. Eph. 2.1-3, James 4.1-7), but we recognize all evil originating from a single source: Satan. Paul said the evil one is an enemy of all righteousness, full of deceit and villainy, perverting the ways of the Lord (Acts. 13.10). Part B In spite of the accuser’s devastating efforts to steal, kill, and destroy, God offers an entirely different approach. There is a “Part B” to John 10.10. Jesus contrasts the enemy’s pillaging work by declaring that we can have abundant life . While the devil’s math is based on subtraction , God’s math is rooted in multiplication . Where the evil one tries to steal your lunch money, God wants to give you enough money for your own lunch, plus a little extra something so you can treat your friends to lunch too (Eph. 4.25). God wants to forge your identity so he can multiply the blessings of his Kingdom. He wants a return on his investment (ROI). If you consider the themes of Jesus’s parables you will see that this is true.