Sins of Satan (#4 - Thief)

"The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy."

(John 10: 10 nkjv)

In my previous entries we have focused on the sins of the Devil, and how he has been "sinning from the beginning" as the apostle John says. (I John 3: 8) In the first in that series (here) we spoke of his chief sin, which is pride, or narcissism. In the second entry (here) we saw where Satan was called, by the Lord Jesus, a "liar." In the third entry (here) we saw where he also called Satan a "murderer." In this entry we will focus on how Satan is a thief or robber.

The above text (John 10: 10) alludes chiefly to Satan and identifies him as a thief. He is the inspiration for all thieves. His messengers or servants (II Cor. 11: 15) are the demons and the false prophets and teachers and they are involved in stealing from God and his people, and from anyone and everyone. So the apostle Paul warned: "Let no one cheat you of your reward" (Col. 2: 18 nkjv). Satan, through his ministers and agents, will steal your peace, joy, and even your soul. In the parable of the sower and seed, of the various kinds of soil, Christ in interpreting the parable said:

"When anyone hears the word of the kingdom, and does not understand it, then the wicked one comes and snatches away what was sown in his heart. This is he who received seed by the wayside." (Matt. 13: 19 nkjv)

This is another indictment of Satan. He is a thief. He steals the word out of the hearts of those who are hearing the word of God. In the old testament we hear God say:

“Will a man rob God? Yet you have robbed Me! But you say, ‘In what way have we robbed You?’ In tithes and offerings." (Mal. 3: 8 nkjv)

Can God be robbed? Yes and no. God cannot be robbed of his essential glory and attributes, nor in any other way except in cases where he suffers it. Men may rob God of what naturally belongs to him, such as praise and worship, or in tithes and offerings. We rob God when we do not give him the love and adoration and thanks he deserves, when we do not give him our time, our efforts, and our hearts and minds.

Satan seeks to rob God of his sovereignty, and of all that belongs to him. When he came to tempt the Lord Jesus Christ he said:

"Again, the devil took Him up on an exceedingly high mountain, and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory. And he said to Him, “All these things I will give You if You will fall down and worship me.” (Matt. 4: 8 nkjv)

By tempting Christ and others to worship him he is acting as a thief.

So, how do we protect ourselves from being robbed by the Devil? We know of the ways we try to protect our stuff from being stolen by men. We have alarms, door locks, safes, etc. to prevent it. Yet, they are not always successful. However, how do we protect ourselves from being robbed of the Devil? One thing is to do as Jesus said when he said:

“Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also." (Matt. 6: 19-21 nkjv)

What more secure place can there be to put your most valuable treasures? Your most valuable treasure is your heart and soul. All the good works you do for Christ are also ways you can lay up treasures in heaven, for God will surely reward you for your service done in true faith.

We also must guard our hearts lest they be stolen by the Devil and his army of thieves. Solomon said:

"Guard your heart with all diligence, For from it flow the springs of life." (Prov. 4: 23 LSB)

We need to be on the look out for thieves. We cannot let down our guard. Satan has his pickpockets. He can sneak upon you unawares and can take away your peace and joy and your assurance. Thankfully, by God's watching, Satan cannot steal away the gift of eternal life, nor your standing with the Lord. He can steal only so far as God's providence suffers him to do so. He cannot steal any of the sheep of Christ because Christ is such a great shepherd. So, though Satan comes to steal and rustle away the sheep, as rustlers rustle cattle, he is never successful. Yet, he keeps on trying.