Do you find your IDENTITY in the things of this world? Or is your IDENTITY found in Christ?
There are numerous things in which our culture tells us we can find self worth, but notice they are all external.
- Status symbols – fashion, automobile, house, expensive vacation
- Relationships – being popular among peers, friend count on social media, sports team loyalty
- Accomplishments – epic life experiences, attending the right university, successful career, title and job position
- Personal – physical appearance, personality traits
The lists could go on and on. The point is the things of this world will never fulfill us. If we base our identity there, we will always come up empty. And we’ll never stop striving for more. We’ll never measure up.
We must find our identity in things that are spiritual and last forever. Look at what 1 John 2:14-17 says:
“I have written to you, young men, because you are strong, and the word of God abides in you, and you have overcome the evil one. Do not love the world nor the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the boastful pride of life, is not from the Father, but is from the world. The world is passing away, and also its lusts; but the one who does the will of God lives forever.” (NASB, emphasis added)
These verses connect with a passage in Luke 4. Jesus spent 40 days in the wilderness being tempted by the devil. What types of things did Satan use to tempt Jesus?
- the lust of the flesh (Luke 4:1-4)
- the lust of the eyes (Luke 4:5-8)
- the boastful pride of life (Luke 4:9-12)
Satan used the things of this world and he also twisted truth to try and get Jesus to sin. However, Jesus used Scripture to combat the temptation and the lies. We can follow this example in our own lives.
Know the Truth
“This hope we have as an anchor of the soul, a hope both sure and steadfast…”
Hebrews 6:19, NASB
The best place for a Christian to discover (or recover) their identity is in the Word of God. Check out these verses:
- “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, and before you were born I consecrated you…” Jeremiah 1:5
- “See how great a love the Father has bestowed on us, that we would be called children of God; and such we are. For this reason the world does not know us, because it did not know Him. Beloved, now we are children of God, and it has not appeared as yet what we will be. We know that when He appears, we will be like Him, because we will see Him just as He is.” 1 John 3:1-2
- “When you were dead in your transgressions and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He made you alive together with Him, having forgiven us all our transgressions, having canceled out the certificate of debt consisting of decrees against us, which was hostile to us; and He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross.” Colossians 2:13-14
- “But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God’s own possession, so that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light…” 1 Peter 2:9
Can you imagine the stability the world would find if they placed their faith in Jesus Christ? If they based their identity on the Savior that gives everlasting life? For God loves each of us so much that He gave His only Son, so the world might be saved through Him (John 3:16-17).
But, Satan wants us to think otherwise. John 10:10 says Satan is a thief that “comes to steal and kill and destroy” but that Jesus “came that they may have life, and have it abundantly.”
From Your Identity to Your Calling
Your identity not only describes who you are, but even more importantly, it also determines what you do. Once we discover our identity in Christ, we can go on to fulfill the God-given calling that He has designed for our lives.
- “I am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides in Me and I in him, he bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing.” John 15:5
- “For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them.” Ephesians 2:10
Has God put a calling on your life that always seems out of reach or too difficult to begin? Take a moment to reflect on where you are finding your identity. If it is not in Jesus Christ, start by letting go of everything that competes with Him to define who you are. Once you find yourself in Him, like a branch firmly connected to the vine, it will be the most natural thing in the world to bear good fruit.
