Seeing Yourself Through God's Eyes: What is Your Identity?

Every Person born into this world has had difficulty with identity at some time or another. All of us have struggled with our self-image. Many people spend a lifetime manipulating acceptance and attention from others, thinking that they are building an indestructible tower of self-worth. Yet brick by brick, others fail us, and expectations falter. Meanwhile, they miss the vision God truly has of them and the immense value He places on them. However, the steps, we need to have a knowledge of what is meant by IDENTITY.

     Have you ever asked, Who am I? Where am I going? Do you feel you have little purpose or worth? How essential it is for you to arrive at an accurate conclusion to these questions in order to experience the fullest meaning and purpose for your life!

     Realize that your IDENTITY ultimately determines your worth and your destination. In a very sense, if I were to enter a bank, step up to a teller and say, "May I have $100?" the teller would ask for my name and account number. If I could not provide this information and I continued to request money, I would receive nothing but directions to the front door! However, knowing there are resources in my name, regardless of who placed them there, as long as I provide the teller with my name and account number, I can quickly receive the cash requested. My identity definitely determines my worth and my ability to draw upon that reserve.

     Where am I going? How can you answer this question? Some time ago I was flying from Atlanta to Dallas. I arrived at the airport with time to spare before the final boarding call. I made a quick phone call to my mom, using the extra time I thought I had. When I began to board, I was told they had started assigning seats for standby passengers and that I was to check in at the main desk. There was the possibility my seat may have been given to someone else! My heart raced as I approached the agent at the desk and handed him my ticket. Would I be allowed to get home? A silent eternity passed as he scanned a computer screen for the official flight passenger list. He checked for my name, saw it and said with a smile, "Yes, you are on this flight. You may board the plane." You see, my identity was directly linked to the destination of that plane.

     Much more critical is our identity it terms of ultimate worth and eternal destination There are two different "identities" or "families" for all human beings. There are those who are in Adam and those who are in Christ. "For since death came through a man, the resurrection of the dead comes also through a man. For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive" (Corinthians 15:21-22). The question is: to which of these two families do you belong? Your personal identification with one of these families will determine your characteristics and your inheritance.

     Our physiological characteristics are determined by our biological families. When I was a freshman in college, my roommate was Josephine Eng from Hong Kong. She had straight black hair, dark brown eyes, a dark complexion, flatten features and a small frame. I had curly blond hair, green eyes, fair complexion, angular features and a large frame. As much as I appreciated Josephine, I could never possess her characteristics. Simply put, I couldn't have Eng characteristics unless I had been born into the Eng family. Likewise, when we were born into the "Adam" family, we inherited characteristics from his family line.

     Since Adam made the choice in the Garden of Eden not to obey God, he and all his descendants are identified with sin. This heart of independence is basic nature that we have all inherited. Psalm 51:5 says, "Surely I was sinful at birth, sinful from the time my mother conceived me." Consequently, our natural inclination is to sin because we are born into Adam's family.

     However, since God made it possible for us to change families, we are enabled to have a new identity...a new nature! You can be adopted into a family of Christ and become "a child of God." You lose your identity in Adam and receive your identity in Christ. You now have new characteristics. "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!" (2 Corinthians 5:17). Your old natural sin nature is supernaturally changed for a new divine nature. A consequence of this new identity is a new worth based on the abundant resources placed into your personal account. A second consequence is a new destination throughout eternity where you will forever be secure in the presence of God.

     Precious one, how God desires that you receive all that He provides! The struggle with low self-worth can actually be replaced with godly self-worth when you are in Christ. But in order for you to have the characteristic of Christ, you must be in a different family. Has that change become a reality for you? If not, on the authority of the Word of God you can become a child of God. John 1:12 says, "To all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God."

     If you desire this new relationship with God through Christ, you may pray this prayer:

     Lord, I admit that many times I have chosen wrong. I know I've sinned, and I'm asking You to      forgive me for my sins. I now want to become a child of God. I'm asking that Jesus Christ come into my life to be my Savior and Lord. I yield my will to His will. And I thank You for whatever He wants to make of me. In Christ's name I pray. Amen

In fullest humility, you can thank God for His heart's desire to move you into a new family--His family. How extraordinary--every child of God genuinely has a new worth, a new destination and a new identity! Now...begin to see yourself through God's eyes!

Your New Life in Christ

"For as in Adam all die...

In Adam

Old creature                2 Corinthians 5:17

Unrepentant heart        Romans 2:5

Slave to sin                  Romans 6:6

Death                           Romans 6:23

Powerless                    Romans  5:6

Enemies of God           Romans 5:10

Condemned                 Romans 5:6

Slave                           Galatians 4:7

Slave to impurity          Romans 6:19

Poverty                        2 Corinthians 8:9

Accused                       Colossians 1:22

Under law                    Romans 6:14
Under judgment           Romans 5:16

Under a curse               Galatians 3:13

Under wrath                 Ephesians 2:3

In darkness                  Ephesians 5:8

...so in Christ all will be made alive."

In Christ

New creature               2 Corinthians 5:17

New heart                    Ezekiel 36:26

Free from sin               Romans 6:7

Life                              Romans 6:22

Strength                       Philippians 4:13

Reconciled to God       Romans 5:10

No condemnation        Romans 8:1

Son                              Galatians 4:7

Slave to righteousness  Romans 6:19

Riches                          2 Corinthians 8:9

Blameless                     Colossians 1:22

Under grace                  Romans 6:14

Justified                        Romans 5:16

Redeemed from curse   Galatians 3:13

Free from wrath            Romans 5:9

In the light                     Ephesians 5:8 

"For I know the plans I have for you,' declares the Lord, 'plan to prosper you and not to harm you,  plans to give you hope and a future."

Author June Hunt

Check out 'Hope For The Heart's' website, for more information.