Several years ago, I got a call at work from my wife who frantically told me that someone had been in our house. I drove home as fast as I could and, sure enough, the evidence was clear that at some point earlier in the day, we had a break in. They stolen two of my favorite guitars, all of our DVDs, my camera, our video camera, and even a bottle of my cologne! It took a long while before my wife was able to feel comfortable in home.
At first, I was really angry, mainly because my favorite guitar was stolen. But then I felt pity on them for the fate that awaited them if they did not repent of their sin and start a relationship with Christ. I remembered praying for God to just have them return the “stuff” and I wouldn’t ask any questions. Again, I really just wanted my guitar back.
In the evening of Wednesday, February 4, my wife and stepson went to the gym. I stayed home with our one year old. After I put him down for the night, I got in my recliner and started reading my Bible. Just as I was about to dig into Jonah, I heard a strange noise. My first inclination was that it was my one year old who woke up and maybe was pulling his blankets around. A few moments later, I realized the sound was coming from the backyard. It stopped and I waited and listened. Then it started again and the hair on the back of neck stood up. Every muscle in my body tensed and my heart immediately started pounding so much that even my ears were pulsating to the beat. The sound was that of my screen door sliding: someone was in my backyard trying to get in!
(Although I found the picture above on the Internet, the door is very similar to ours except it’s a slider and we have a sliding screen door on the outside. This is the visual I have of what transpired!)
As quickly and quietly as I could, I got out of my chair and tip-toed to the slider. The vertical blinds were closed so I couldn’t see out and whoever it was, couldn’t see in but surely they noticed all the lights on in the house. As I neared the door, I simultaneously pushed the blinds open and turned on the light. No one was there. I went to the front door and saw a SUV pulling away, but I don’t know if it was a neighbor or the thief(ves).
Long story short: I called the police, they came out, but unfortunately, not much they could do.
I haven’t experienced that kind of fear in a very long time, maybe ever. It was an experience I particularly don’t want to relive. “So, Joe…what does this have to do with the subject of your blog?” I’m glad you asked!
So many verses flooded my mind during this whole ordeal. I kept repeating to myself: “Jesus said, ‘do not fear.’” Then I kept hearing “the thief in the night.” Do you know how many times the word “thief” is found in the Bible? 25 times. “Thieves” occurs eight times. The word “fear” occurs 313 times in 299 verses! I would venture to guess that the majority all say “do not fear!”
One verse that describes this “thief in the night” was spoken by Jesus Himself in relation to His Second Coming.
“Therefore be on the alert, for you do not know which day your Lord is coming. But be sure of this, that if the head of the house had known at what time of the night the thief was coming, he would have been on the alert and would not have allowed his house to be broken into. For this reason you also must be ready; for the Son of Man is coming at an hour when you do not think He will.” –Matthew 24:42-44.
The part that jumped out at me having gone through what I went through Wednesday night was “if the head of house had known what time…the thief was coming, he would have…not have allowed his house to be broken into.” The reason it struck me is that so many people seem to have this thought process that as Christians, we are supposed to “turn the other cheek” and just lay down, so to speak. Yes, this verse is about being ready for Christ’s return, but I think there is a truism here: God doesn’t have a problem with us protecting our families or even our property. I guess it’s just something I never really thought much about until this whole thing happened and I read those verses.
But the experience has also shown me that we cannot get complacent and think that Jesus isn’t coming back. He is. And will He find us ready? Or will will be caught off guard and unprepared? I don’t want to be the latter any more than I want to be unprepared for–God-forbid–another “thief in the night.”
May He Increase!
Joe……this isn’t a “good” spiritual application but having experienced an “intruder” it is frightening. Also…..there has been some “crazy” shootings in our area. I trust in the Lord…..don’t get me wrong……but “we” also have backup now and it’s locked and loaded!!!!
Thanks Ike.
I have no problems with gun ownership. My dad owns several guns and rifles so I was no stranger to them. However, I’ve come to realize that having a gun for “home defense” and “gun safety” are more or less mutually exclusive. The reason being, if I had a handgun in my house (at this time I do not), with having a 15 year old and a 1 year old son, I would have: a) trigger locks; b) the gun in a hidden and secure location; c) the ammo stored separately. This is the “safety” portion.
Now, if someone enters my home in the middle of the night, how in the world am I supposed to go: a) get the gun; b) unlock the trigger lock; c) go get the ammo stored elsewhere; d) “lock-and-load?” The only other alternative I thought would work is to go and buy a pump shotgun and keep it unloaded. One pump of that, I think anyone in ear shot is going to go running!
I went old-school right after the last event. I went to Home Depot and got a nice ax handle a la Buford Pusser of “Walking Tall” fame. I have to defend my family. It’ll be over my dead body and someone tries getting in here uninvited again.
I hear you!