Double or nothin'

Exodus 22:9 (New Living Translation)
9 “Suppose there is a dispute between two people who both claim to own a particular ox, donkey, sheep, article of clothing, or any lost property. Both parties must come before God, and the person whom God declares guilty must pay double compensation to the other.”

How true are the laws of the Bible? I like to think that they are all true and held with integrity and perfection. This is a law about stolen or found property. Basically, when two parties claim to own the same property, they are to bring their dispute before God. Whomever God condemns is required to pay back to the other twice as much. This is simply beautiful for those of us who are in Christ.

About 5000 years ago the Devil, Satan, The Accuser of the Brethren, went before God with a challenge. He told God that the ONLY reason Job loved Him was because of the riches that God had bestowed upon him. He suggested that if everything was taken away from Job, he would curse God. So God allowed Satan to take (steal) anything from Job, with the exception of his life. The story reads like a country western song! Job lost his family, his wealth, his friends, and his health. Job didn’t curse his God, though.

In the end, God restores what had been taken (wrongfully) from Job. (“In fact, the Lord gave him twice as much as before!” Job 42:10) The Devil took what didn’t belong to him and God knew it all along. The Bible gives credit (as it should) to God for restoring what was taken from Job, but I believe that God caused the Devil to have to pay back double what he stole. The Lord is just, the Lord is integrity. His word stands and is perfect.

Jesus went to the cross to pay our sin debt so that we can stand before God with a clean and clear heart. We are made righteous in His blood. We are His, and there is NO condemnation for those who belong to Christ. (Romans 8:1) When the Devil stands before God and says, “This is mine”, it is your RIGHT to face the Creator and say, “It is mine.” God will decide. Whom the Lord condemns must pay back double! Take back your health, your family, and everything else that the Devil has stolen! Tell God, “This is mine!” and receive a double portion!