Identity

When our older son wanted to go on his first international mission trip, we all needed to apply for passports. We gathered to submit the required documents, only to find out that when my handwritten birth certificate was entered electronically, two letters in my maiden name had been transposed. I offered my parents’ marriage license as proof of the error but this would not suffice, so I began the paperwork process for correcting the error with barely enough time to receive my passport before our scheduled departure. How do you prove your identity to the government when it is called into question? I am still baffled by their solution. They used our son’s birth certificate, on which I had entered my own maiden name, as validation of the correct spelling.

Now we have Real ID, yet daily identities are stolen or simply created online. Since returning to social media recently, I’ve learned to look carefully at what’s actually posted on someone’s page before assuming it’s the person who’s name and face I recognize. Even when instant messaging, I have been fooled by reasonable responses until the sales pitch begins. We complain about the two phase identification processes required online but we all enjoy the assurance of not being duped. We want to be known and recognized as genuine, even if our self-portrayal is only part of the story. Our identity is so very important, and it was settled before we were even born!

“Even before he made the world, God loved us and chose us in Christ to be holy and without fault in his eyes. God decided in advance to adopt us into his own family by bringing us to himself through Jesus Christ. This is what he wanted to do, and it gave him great pleasure.”

Ephesians 1:4-5 NLT

https://www.bible.com/116/eph.1.4-5.nlt

“For everything comes from him and exists by his power and is intended for his glory. All glory to him forever! Amen.”

Romans 11:36 NLT

https://www.bible.com/116/rom.11.36.nlt

God loved us and chose us to reflect His glory even before He made the world! Each unique individual on the planet now and throughout history and in the future is known by Almighty God. You and I were conceived in His mind with purpose and intention before we were ever thought of by our own parents. “For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.”

Ephesians 2:10 NLT

https://www.bible.com/116/eph.2.10.nlt

Once I accept my true identity in Christ, His Spirit becomes alive in me as the apostle Paul taught Timothy, his son in the faith. The Spirit is spoken of in Scripture as a flame and young Timothy was reminded to “fan into flame this gift of the Spirit,” (II Timothy 1:6) while being cautioned against quenching, stifling or suppressing it. (I Thessalonians 5:19) A heart and mind open to the instruction of the Holy Spirit identifies with Christ in all things and begins to increasingly reflect Him as well.

“You guide me with your counsel, leading me to a glorious destiny. Whom have I in heaven but you? I desire you more than anything on earth. Psalms 73:24-25 NLT

https://www.bible.com/116/psa.73.24-25.nlt

But as for me, how good it is to be near God! I have made the Sovereign Lord my shelter, and I will tell everyone about the wonderful things you do.”

Psalms 73:28 NLT

https://www.bible.com/116/psa.73.28.nlt

Author and speaker, Holley Gerth, posted on her Instagram recently (4/19/21) the following excerpt: “She wisely understands what the enemy is really after is not simply to make us sin- the cross has already taken care of that- it’s to make us abandon our identity. It’s to convince us we cannot be both imperfect and loved at the same time. It’s to tempt us to believe our worst moments define us. The enemy of our hearts would always rather have us embrace shame and guilt instead of grace because grace is what transforms us…grace always wins!” What Jesus accomplished on the cross on my behalf trumps anything in my past, present, or future! When God looks at me, He sees Jesus!

“Because of Christ and our faith in him, we can now come boldly and confidently into God’s presence.”

Ephesians 3:12 NLT

https://www.bible.com/116/eph.3.12.nlt

“So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive his mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it most.”

Hebrews 4:16 NLT

https://www.bible.com/116/heb.4.16.nlt

When we come to God through Jesus Christ, we approach our Heavenly Father as His beloved children. “And because we are his children, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, prompting us to call out, “Abba, Father.””

Galatians 4:6 NLT

https://www.bible.com/116/gal.4.6.nlt

So as Jesus spoke to Thomas after His resurrection, “stop doubting and believe!” (John 20:27) Go to the Father and you will find the truth. You are who He says you are- His!