Identity...

What is your identity? I know from watching T.V., reading books, and talking to others that our identities can range with each person you talk to. Your identity can come from those you grew up with, the culture, a social influencer, a job or occupation, school, a spouse, sports, money, hobbies, religion, a specific group of people, or a specific passion you might have. But is this our true identity? When we look out into this big world, we can see all kinds of people who claim to have all kinds of different identities. Today, you could even identify yourself as a man, woman, them, they, or even an animal if you choose too. As the culture and society unfolds, we need to observe what is going on around us, and if you do, you can see many who struggle with the question of their identity. For example, a program I have enjoyed watching on T.V. is Ax Men. I think this program is a great example of men and women who have chosen the identity of being a logger (an occupation). If you have ever watched the show, each individual is extremely proud of being a logger even though it is hard dangerous work (that only a few can do). Many of the individuals on the show are so into their logging identity that it would be hard for them to imagine any other identity. I can relate to the logger identity; it seems like a cool, hardworking identity to have. But if you look at their lives online you can see that this identity only gives them temporary meaning and satisfaction. In reality, they are depressed, sad, and struggling with their day-to-day existence (like the rest of us). So, the question keeps coming to my mind, why are so many people depressed and unhappy when they are so passionate about their identity? One would think that if you have a solid identity, you would be full of passion, meaning, joy, and happiness. But that does not seem to be the case. Why is that? Why are so many people confused and lost when they have chosen an identity that seems so impressive/cool/weird/different on the outside? Maybe the identity they have is false, like worshiping an idol, or worshiping self. Or maybe there is only one identity that has the compacity to satisfy the soul? If there is only one identity that can satisfy the soul, then it would be understandable why so many people are running the race of life and have realized the identity they have leaves them unsatisfied, longing for meaning, and an empty vessel in need of help (a ship drifting in the ocean).

What identity can give us the meaning and worth that all people seek? An identity that will fill the void in our daily existence, in our soul, our mind, and give the significance to life we all desire? One that can integrate who we are and give us the peace we all desire and want! I would suggest that the only identity that can fulfill our deepest longing is an identity in Christ. In Christ we are a new creation, thus we can let go of all our old identities and focus on our new identity in Christ. One of peace, grace, love, forgiveness, kindness, patience, mercy, assurance, and affirmation that we are children of God.

2 Corinthians 5:14-21 “For Christ’s love compels us, because we are convinced that one

died for all, and “him who died for them and was raised again. So from now on we

regard no one from a worldly point of view. Though we once regarded Christ in this

way, we do so no longer. Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come:

The old has gone, the new is here! All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself

through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: that God was reconciling the

world to himself in Christ, not counting people’s sins against them. And he has

committed to us the message of reconciliation. We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors,

as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf:

Be reconciled to God. God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we

might become the righteousness of God.

Having your identity in Christ is not easy, but Christ will help you work through all your old identities through grace, mercy, love, repentance, and desiring to walk with God. All our old identities are based on self-worship and worshiping the things of this world and not worshiping God (the things that leave us dead inside our souls). C.S. Lewis shares a story that sheds some light on how we all want to pursue our own identity and not pursue our identity in Christ. The story is about a young man wanting his freedom to do what he wants.

C.S. Lewis states: Someone or something whispered that they could become as gods –

that they could cease directing their lives to their Creator and taking all their delights as

uncovenanted mercies, as “accidents” (in the logical sense) which arose in the course of

life directed not to those delights but to the adoration of God. As a young man wants a

regular allowance from his father which he can count on as his own, within which he

makes his own plans (and rightly, for his father is after all a fellow creature) so they

desired to be on their own, to take care of their own future, to plan for pleasure and for

security, to have a meum from which, no doubt, they would pay some reasonable

tribute to God in the way of time, attention, and love, but which nevertheless, was theirs

not His. They wanted, as we say, to call their souls their own.” But that means to live a

lie, for our souls are not, in fact, our own.”

Our souls and identity belong to God, so when we take a different identity in worldly things, it goes against what God has planned for us. No matter how hard we try, the only way to bring true peace and joy into our lives is to accept your one and only true identity, and that is your identity in Christ!!