Identity

Scriptures: The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children. (Romans 8:16)

In the movie, “Bourne Identity”, a CIA agent was injured in the head and lost his memory. As a result, when the physical injury was cured, he had no idea who he was and why things were happening to him, especially those threatening his life.

The story took him through a process in which he started with the evidences he had, the information of a bank account, to other leads and clues that eventually helped him discover his true identify and regain some understanding of his past and all the complexity therein.

This is, of course, a fictitious story. But it tells one important truth: Who you are has everything to do with what’s happening to your life. So often we are surprised at what happens to us in life when, in fact, God has told us in the bible why.

Bible tell us that, “Yet to all who received Him, to those who believed in His name, He gave the right to become children of God – children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God.” (John 1:12-13) This is incredible. Simply because we believe in the name of Jesus, God is willing to give us the right to be His children.

Actually, it’s more than a right. Bible says that we are born of God. That means there’s a relationship of life extension from God to us. When we believe in Jesus, we have a new identity and a new life, just as Paul proclaimed in his letter to Corinthian Christians, “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!” (II Corinthians 5:17)

The legal aspect of this new relationship, the new identity, brings to us claims to our heavenly heritage, “In Him we were also made heirs, having been destined according to the plan of Him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of His will,” (Ephesians 1:11) and many blessings in this life.

But this new identity also brought us to the forefront of a spiritual battlefield. Jesus said, “If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first. If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you.” (John 15:18-19) Our relationship to our Heavenly Father and to our Lord Redeemer, as evidenced by our new identity and testified by the Holy Spirit, is convicting to this world for its rejection of the salvation by our Lord Jesus.

Yes, who we are has everything to do with what’s happening to us, just like what Jason Bourne experienced. But, unlike Jason, we do not have amnesia. We need not go far to search for answers to things in our lives because God has already provided the answers in His Word, Bible, and has sent His Spirit to help assure us of our new identity and understand His plans for us in life.

If we remember who we are, children of God, and walk in His truth, we will know our lives are not probable coincidences, but instead, a divine certainty with His plan and purpose. There’s no surprise to God and, as limited as we are in understanding, we can march into our lives with Him in confidence because we are His beloved children!

Prayer Requests:
1. For those who are struggling with the many hats they have to wear in life

Prayer:
Father, thank You for making us Your children. Please help us never to forget our true and eternal identity and empower us to live in such a dignified manner that matches this identity and give glory to You. We pray in the name of our Lord Jesus, Amen!