“You were made by God and for God and until you understand that, life will never make sense.
Rick Warren
If I were allowed to write on only two subjects, I would write on knowing who God is and knowing who God created us to be. Knowing the character of God is a lifetime pursuit. I will be learning and experiencing the wonders of my Creator, the rest of my life and never fully exhaust all that He is. When we know who God is, then we discover who we are, our identity in Christ.
Jesus writes in John 8:14, “For I absolutely know who I am, where I’ve come from, and where I’m going.” (Passion Translation) Jesus knew clearly who He was and who He was created to be. John 8:14 describes the three components of our identity: Knowing who we are, knowing where we’ve come from, and knowing where we’re headed.
The Word of God says that we are: God’s treasured possession, the apple of His eye, we’ve been given all authority to overcome the power of the enemy, a son/daughter of God, a friend of God, beloved, set free from sin and a slave of righteousness, more than a conqueror, a new creation, chosen, holy, blameless, and victorious. When I believe these truths in my heart, then I’ll walk differently than one who has an orphan spirit or a victim mentality.
I know my past, where I’ve come from, and all the sins I’ve committed before and after I became a Christian. I have to work at not letting my past define me, nor allow the accuser of the brethren, to whisper his lies. There is no truth in what Satan says. God has redemptively used the most painful parts in my past. The third verse in Isaiah 61 says He makes beauty out of ashes. Our past doesn’t define us, nor does it disqualify us. In fact, it actually qualifies us for future ministry.
The last component of our identity lies in knowing where we’re headed, what our calling is all about. My destiny is to mentor the masses, to be a restorer of hearts, so that peoples’ intimacy with God is deepened. This is the future God has planned out for me and now I need to be intentional and focused on fulling my identity.
“Define yourself radically as one beloved by God. This is the true self. Every other identity is illusion.”
Brennan Manning
Relevant Reflection:
Who are you, where have you come from, and where are you going?