John 10:10 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.
If you will pardon the personal illustration, I would like to talk to you about how revilers, abusers, sociopaths, and narcissists STEAL not only from their targeted victims, but from many others in the circle of the victims’ world.
We knew an exceptionally godly young woman many years ago (over half a century now!) who was married to a RASN. Being young and inexperienced, we did not realize the nature of the man she was married to. Oh, we could see some of the foibles but what we did not know about was the level of psychological cruelty he subjected her to. Ultimately he deserted her (to her great benefit, though she did not realize it at the time).
Well, the years raced by. Initially we were able to see her on occasion (we had moved some distance away by then) and were very glad for her when she met a Godly man and remarried. But what I want to show you specifically is that her abuser’s stealing did not end even then. Of course we can see how he stole many things from her initially – her confidence, her health, her freedom and more. But he also stole from US and others. How? Well, just consider what could have been. Let me explain.
Had that RASN been kind, truly loving her as Christ loves His bride, had he repented of his sin and followed Christ, our original friendship with that couple would have continued and grown over all these years. Happily, as I said, the Lord gave her a wonderful, Godly husband, but the RASN stole from us what could have been years of friendship. But the RASN destroyed all of that. He stole it.
When a RASN does his RASN destruction, a world of relationships and joy is stolen. Fortunately, in the last months of her life, we were able to reconnect with our friend, but still I cannot help but be very angry about what was stolen from all of us. When an evil person abuses another they inevitably use deceptive tactics which confuse and divide others. They alienate us from one another. They STEAL! They are THIEVES! They steal joy and friendships – they destroy worlds that could have been. Just like the wolves and false shepherds Jesus’ spoke so much about. They only come to steal and kill and destroy. They erase years that could have been.
Fortunately we have a Good Shepherd who is in the business of repaying wolves for what they have done to Christ’s sheep. These RASNs are surely going to come to a miserable end. The Lord will repay them tenfold for their evil deeds. And there is more. Our Good Shepherd is in the business of restoring what was stolen from us:
Joel 2:25-26 I will restore to you the years that the swarming locust has eaten, the hopper, the destroyer, and the cutter, my great army, which I sent among you. (26) “You shall eat in plenty and be satisfied, and praise the name of the LORD your God, who has dealt wondrously with you. And my people shall never again be put to shame.
Beans
I’m glad that you shared Joel 2:25-26. It’s so comforting.
Agree….
It is bittersweet to read, and it is entirely accurate. The RASN are satan’s messengers and their decisiveness is their way to control the narrative – and their listeners essentially become their personal puppets if they stay around the RASN long enough. The RASNs do steal….. and provided you can gain as much physical and emotional distance from them as possible ….. there is a chance to begin anew…despite what the RASN stole. There is a new lease on life, for however many years are left. That is a freedom…… deep… deep… freedom here in this life, in so many ways. May the Lord pave the way for those that are trying to break free…..