If you were at Genesis tonight, you heard Tim talk about how we identify ourselves, or what we believe about ourselves tends to dictate who we are and what we become. This hits home with me. I never dreamed about what I would be when I grew up. I had no idea. Becoming a believer at 18 gave me an identity, but I didn’t know what that meant. I was a Christian so I guess I was to do what Christians do. All I had to go by was the small church I was saved in, so I did what they did. That was my identity. When I left that church, I didn’t know who I was so I adapted the identity of the new church I belonged to. That eventually left me frustrated and empty. I knew I was given a new life but looking back I had no idea what that meant. I just knew that there had to be more to life than being a Baptist and doing what they do. I eventually joined the Marine Corps primarily so I could get away for awhile. That experience was the beginning of some very serious and life changing examination. Now, 17 years after coming to Christ, I’m just beginning to see that it is my identity in God–who He has made(is making) me to be–that gives me hope in life. As I struggle to find that career I love, or with what I can contribute to the world, or with the difficulties in life, I see that my identity in God will play its part out in all those aspects as well as what ever else life throws out. I am beginning to see this identity as the basis on which I make, or should make, decisions in all of life’s ventures whether it be work, family, ministry,etc.
So what am I saying. I know I’m created to be in God’s image. I have to continue to learn what that means. Mostly I’m getting that love and humility should be the basis of every decision I make. I’m learning that in understanding this identity brings wisdom in all areas of life, and based on this wisdom, I’m able to make better decisions. Breakdown: the more I identity with God through Jesus Christ, the more I learn about how he has made me, the more I learn about His creation and how it works (wisdom), the better decisions I make, the more I’m becoming who I’ve been created to be, the more I understand my identity with God through Jesus Christ…….
So, to all you who are struggling with figuring out who you are and what you’re supposed to do and be doing, your in good company. Pretty much everyone else is struggling with the same thing. I hope you’ll take to heart Tim’s message, and my experience and figure out this identity issue: who you are, before you’re in your mid 30s before you get a clue. Now I’m having to live with and dig myself out of the bad decisions I made that were made with out any wisdom at all. Don’t get me wrong, I love my life, but my bad choices has placed limits on what I can and can’t do now in some ways, and it will be years before I can move on with living life more to it’s fullest.
Later,
Jim
