A few years ago, while an undergraduate student in Ghana, I experienced an unfortunate event on campus. I wore a new dress to church, washed the dress later and hung it on the drying line. In fact, that drying line had been drying my clothes since I moved to that student hall. Other students had complained of missing clothes from the drying line but I was yet to experience that. The thief decided to show up on the day I washed this new dress. By the time I went to remove my clothes, this particular new dress was lost. Thieves do not announce their presence. Even if they give you signals, they still arrive when you least expect. The purpose of the thief is to take what does not belong to them by force. They vandalize properties and sometimes kill people in their attempt. Thieves enter full houses and leave the houses all messed up and empty. Be on the watch for the thief! The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly. (John 10:10) While we could avoid robbers in the light of proper security systems, there is a particular thief who tends to evade technology. His goal is to steal, kill and destroy and these he does to completion. Jesus is our Good Shepherd and the devil is the thief prowling around and looking for a stray sheep to devour. Whenever a sheep leaves the flock, they are susceptible to the attacks of the thief. How do we avoid this thief? Jesus said, “I am the door. If anyone enters by Me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture. The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly” (John 10:9-10 NKJV). Thus, the thief is interested in the sheep that wanders away from the door. Issues of life have the potential to cause one to wander away. Our attitudes could make us prone to the actions of the thief. The goal of the Shepherd is to give you an abundant life. The goal of the thief is to rip you off and leave you empty. Life can be lived and enjoyed to the fullest. Abundant life refers to a life filled with the fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23); a life without anxiety, depression and pain; a life with an ultimate goal of eternity and salvation. Abundant life does not consist of our possessions but our relationship with the chief Shepherd. I am a great advocate of saving for the future but investment secures a sustainable future not an abundant life. In fact, our journey to abundant life begins with our confession of Jesus and our acceptance of His Lordship. Walking with an eternity mindset and living with Christlikeness viewpoint yields abundance in the spiritual and the physical. Our God is interested in the total facet of our lives and He desires that we experience abundant life on earth. However, we have to be careful of having an abundant life mindset. Trust the chief Shepherd to give you life in its fullest. The thief is an expert in emptiness. Do not give him a chance!
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