Thursday, November 29, 2012

name, rank, and social security number






Right there in English in red letters for all to see it says "Not for identification purposes." Yet this card, and your number is used to identify you by the government of the US of A and other lesser enterprises. So today with so many numbers and passwords that are readily available to all who seek them, whether illegally or legally, it is hard to find your true identity, but easy for anyone else. They call it identity theft, and I have been victimized twice, the perpetrators being very low end thieves or just plain stupid picking on my accounts. But yet it happened, and you feel violated, as has anyone who has ever been robbed. But when it happens by mistake, user error, it doesn't make you fell any better.
For those of you who think that one Michael A. Mohn is one too many, I know of another. We both banked at the same bank, and both would use the night deposit drop, the precursor to the ATM. My other namesake was a sheep rancher, and after going to auction, would put an envelope of thousands of dollars of cash in the drop box, with only his name printed on the envelope. And with a 50/50 chance of getting it right, sometimes they didn't, and I would get a phone call, "please disregard your bank balance, we put the $9000 in the wrong account. We will cover any checks until you correct it, please note it is not yours." I never knew the other Michael, but can only imagine how he felt getting a similar, yet disheartening message telling him the money you deposited is not in your account. Scared and wary at first, when it happened more than once, I began to take it in stride.
But it seems we both had our houses financed at the same place, and when he didn't make his mortgage payments, I got a foreclosure letter. Which really cheesed me off, but I got a phone call first from the mortgage holder explaining the mistake, and that all had been corrected, and nothing derogatory would show up on my file. Do the words "hi I'm from the government, and here to help" mean anything to you? They do to me. Fortunately when I moved out of state, changed banks, and sold the house this came to an end. This two same names in a town of 13,000 caused a big problem, I guess I should be glad I'm not John Smith in Metropolis, on Main Street.
Revelation 22, perhaps the happiest book in the Bible tells us we will all have special name that Jesus gives us on our forehead for all to see, no two alike. It seems we have to get to heaven before the record is straight, and God knows it all, and is just. A more than fair argument for separation of church and state, at least in terms of identifation. But in Chapter 13, we find that those left behind are given a number, 666, representing man on their hand or foreheads, and those that take it have no chance for salvation. And it seems that God has used Satan's example for His own, when just the opposite is true.
To all you who think Satan is stupid, he isn't, just evil. And knows the word better than you ever will, he has been face to face with God. Since in the beginning was the word, and still is the word, he has read it many times, even twisting it in the Garden, and trying to deceive Jesus. Don't argue with him or his followers, you could lose the argument! And although he knows the end, this origin of lies even lies to himself about it. And having read through to Revelation 22, knew about the forehead ID and name before you did. And so copied it, performing it first, and leading people astray. Having those left behind showing who they follow, while we get ours after we follow God. He is devious, be careful. He is the counterfeiter, not God, so make sure who you follow. There is more to a name, and your identity in Christ is powerful. The only thing that keeps you out of hell is Jesus-and you don't have to go. You can call on His name, the one who is faithful and true, and be assured of eternal life.
Which beats getting your bank accounts confused, and having your house foreclosed on, guilty until proven innocent.
So make a true deposit in the future today, turn to Jesus. You can't take your riches with you, but you can send them ahead by blessing others. It is who Jesus says we are that matters, and woe to those who are turned away, being told "I never knew you." For those He saves have their names written in the Book of Life, not sure which name, I just know mine will be there. He knows my name, and knows me. Do you know Him? The ad asks "what's in your wallet?" The real question is what's written on your forehead?
The devil or God? Heaven or hell? Name or number? Even the best computers can confuse things, isn't it better to trust the one who is perfect? Just in case there is another named like you out there? Jesus-name above all names! No confusion there, and He calls us friend. He knows your name, do you know His?
love with compassion,
Mike
identification.blogspot.com