May I See Your ID Please?

In western society we have a lot of ways to identify ourselves and others. We have driver’s licenses, passports, social security cards, birth certificates, and employment IDs. Some people even make a big issue to build their identity around their race, gender and other attributes.

What is the purpose in all the ways we attempt to categorize ourselves and others? To build a meaningful identity that describes who we are and what gives us purpose, right? Often these identities are used to prove who we are. Most of the time the officer or TSA agent or bank teller looks at our ID, things line up and we move on.

Sometimes though, our identity is found in or verified by someone else. We give references to a friend for a new job. We go on a date because a friend said he’s a really nice guy. Sometimes, a loved one is called in when there is a death in the family.

Putting our identity in the hands of another person or relation can at times be reliable. Sometimes, not so much. But the one relationship that I can always count on is my relationship with Christ. He’s there for me and knows me better than I know myself. In good times, and even in not so good times; even when I suffer terrible hurt; I can go to Him in complete dependence on who He is to me and who I am to Him.

No matter what the circumstances, the answer and the identity are always the same with Him. I’m His daughter and embraced in His love. He covers me completely as I need complete protection from the storms in life. Even when my brain is in turmoil in the midst of life issues or even a seizure, He holds me close and reassures me that He’s there. As hard as it is and I don’t like going through them, I know that these times are the times I am closest to God, my Father, my peace, my protector, my provider.

God has promised that no matter what life throws at me that I have eternity to look forward to being what God calls me; His child!

Revelation 21:^{4 (NIV)} ‘He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death’^[a] or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.”

You may be wondering how I know these things and even how you might be able to know these things in your life? How can anyone have this identity, this confidence, this hope?

God wants to be right there, a part of our lives. He created us for a relationship with Him even though we have failed and alienated ourselves from Him. But that wasn’t God’s design. He even wants so badly to be there for us that He sent His Son to pay the consequences for our failures so that we could have a relationship with Him.

^{Romans 5:8 (NIV)} But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

He only asks that we accept His free gift.

Romans 6:^{23 (NIV)} For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

When we do, He becomes our identity and our security.

So…
I know my God saved the day!
I know His Word never fails!
I don’t care what the world throws at me now! It’s gonna be alright because I know my God saved the day… (excerpt from Salvation is Here, Hillsong)

If you would like to know more about this identity in Christ, write me a comment.