[Kleptomaniac] - a person with a rare, chronic mental health disorder characterized by an irresistible urge to steal items that are generally of little value or not needed. It is classified as an ‘impulse control disorder’, where individuals experience intense tension before the theft, followed by relief or pleasure during it.

‘Shoplifting’ might be the term we are most familiar with; and because it’s such a prevalent ‘crime’ today, the price of goods are increased to offset the cost of security and preventative measures that many small and large businesses alike incur to fight against those losses.

There are multiple reasons as to why people are ‘compelled’ to steal things that are not theirs, taking things they have not paid for; but the key word here is ‘steal’. I believe the 8th commandment addresses this area of sin that God takes great exception to; and yes, stealing is a ‘crime’ in our secular society as well. Charges vary depending on the value of that which was taken illegally.

I have no doubt that many people ‘steal’ things that might fall under the category of basic necessities, simply out of desperation, like food items. They (or their children) are hungry, they have no money and are driven by hunger, which does not justify their actions, but certainly ‘explains’ why they take things without paying for them. Others...probably just do it for the ‘thrill’...because they can. I bet many of us could confess to doing such things when we were ‘younger’, if we’re being honest here. And then there are those people who fall in that category of suffering from ‘kleptomania’, as defined above.

But for whatever the reason people take (steal) things that don’t belong to them...I would hope we could all agree that stealing is ‘wrong’, unacceptable, and...in God’s eyes...’sinful’.

If you had an employee who worked for you and they were caught stealing from you, severe actions would usually follow, like termination of employment and possible legal charges. I can see where in some cases, an employer might take in to account varying circumstances and actually extend some mercy and grace to the ‘culprit’ with maybe just a ‘slap on the wrist’ along and a strong word or two of warning is given. But if they continued to steal from the business, no one would expect the employer to put up with the unchanged behavior. (Anyone see where I might be going with this today?)

Which leads me to a word we find often in our Bibles, and that word is ‘repentance’.

To ‘repent’ means:‘to feel or express sincere regret or remorse about one's wrongdoing or ‘sin’. The Greek word used in our Bibles that we get the word ‘repent’ from means to ‘have a change of mind’, to the point it brings about change in how one thinks and lives/acts. It’s not just a ‘feeling of sorrow’ or ‘being sorry’, but it goes much deeper as you see how great the offense is to where you resolve within yourself to change that behavior and commit to not doing it ever again.

So here’s my question for you: If you get caught stealing (shoplifting)...even something as seemingly insignificant like a candy bar, and you ‘make amends’ and vow to never do it again (repent and turn)...yet you do it again...and again...and again...Have you truly ‘repented’ of the sin/crime of shoplifting? I’ll give you a moment with that one.

If you had an employee who continued to steal from your business, maybe expressing genuine tears of remorse and sorrow every time they got caught, but never changed their behavior...are you expected to just ‘forgive and forget’, maybe ‘turn the other cheek’...and allow them to continue on with this behavior? I don’t think any of us would expect that of anyone; so where do you think God stands on this? Now apply this thought process to someone who is guilty of ‘murdering’....repeatedly; or cheating on their spouse and continuing to commit adultery, or any other number of ‘sinful’ behaviors that we agree is unacceptable behavior.

And this leads me to another word found often in our Bibles, and that word is ‘perish’. It’s an important word to acknowledge and understand, because Jesus ties it in directly with the word ‘repent’, saying...that “unless you repent, you will all likewise...perish’. (Luke 13:3,5)

‘Perish’ means to ‘suffer death, typically in a violent, sudden, or untimely way; (a part of his army perished of hunger and disease); to suffer complete ruin or destruction; to lose its normal qualities, to rot or decay (like food).

We find that word in the most often quoted verse of the Bible, John 3:16, that part which says: “...whoever believes in Him should not perish...”. We read in 2 Peter 3:9 how God is ‘longsuffering toward us...not willing that any perish but all come to repentance’.

Friends...do you know the difference between a ‘warning’ and a ‘threat’? God is not threatening us from His word...He is warning us...that if there is no genuine repentance from our sins...then we face a troublesome future and outcome. And my concern here is that many have been led to believe that because they made some ‘profession of faith’...then they are ‘exempt’ from receiving any penalty for their ongoing sins. In other words...because they have embraced John 3:16 and confess they have “believed in Jesus”...then they are ‘protected’ and have been given immunity...and ‘will not perish...but receive everlasting life’. But would you look at John 10:28 for a moment, where Jesus says: “I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish...”. Do you know who He is referring to when He says “them”? Look at vs. 27- “My sheep...who hear My voice and they follow Me.” These are the ones who will not ‘perish’...because they are following Him...or are ‘abiding’ in Him. And we know according to 1 John 2:6; 3:6,9; 5:18...that those who are abiding in Him no longer continue to practice sin.

I mentioned yesterday, watching that documentary on the Chernobyl nuclear disaster that occurred in 1986. Recovered films showed how in the early days following that disaster, the military and government officials sent ‘volunteers’ in to clean up the mess and they draped them in what they thought was ‘protective’ clothing. When we saw that, both Kathy and I looked at each other with looks of bewilderment...asking...’seriously’? They think that is going to protect these men from the lethal dosages of radiation? A good number of those men died within days after being exposed.

Is it possible that the way the gospel of Jesus Christ has been presented to many people today...would be something akin to folks wearing ‘tinfoil hats’ that we tend to laugh at in the movies? You know...I ‘accepted Jesus’ so I won’t perish.    "Many....will come in that day and say....'but Lord..." (Matt. 7:22)