But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ. [Philippians 3:20]
Who are you, and what is the purpose of your life? If you’re reading this early in the morning, you might need a strong cup of Starbucks while you meditate on that question. It’s a bit deep, but extremely important if your entire life is to have focus and stay on track with meaning and a legacy.
It is so easy in this life to think life is found in . . . your career, or your financial success, or fame in Hollywood or in the tech world. Many believe their life is defined by their relationship with their boy friend or girl friend, or spouse. This is a huge trap. We don’t realize it, but over many years we begin to see our own identity in these things or in these relationships. Oh, we would never admit that our life is totally wrapped up in our dependency on our spouse, but our subconscious, our beliefs, and our behavior tell another story. That story often blatantly reveals that our identity is found in those things or those dreams or those people. What a tragedy!
Imagine taking a long trip, but not knowing how to get there and not having a map. Then as you are traveling, you discover a map, and you claim it as your constant guide to get you to your destination. But the map is wrong, and you travel for years headed for the wrong place. This is what it is like when you don’t understand your true identity in Christ. Your life heads in the wrong direction toward the wrong goal.
If you seek to find your identity in your spouse, for example, which is to say you truly believe in the deepest recesses of your heart and mind that you will find happiness, contentment, and fulfillment in life in your spouse, you will be in for disillusionment someday. The only truly fulfilling relationship and the source of all that you need for life and Godliness is found in an intimate relationship with Jesus Christ.
So what is your identity in Christ? Here are just a few verses that define your identity in this life. The Bible is full of them, but these are worth meditating on.
“Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God.” [John 1:12]
“Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.” [Romans 5:1]
“Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies.” [1 Corinthians 6:19-20]
“For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.” [Colossians 1:13-14]
“For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” [Romans 8: 38-39]
“But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ.” [Philippians 3:20]
“You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit—fruit that will last—and so that whatever you ask in my name the Father will give you.” [John 15:16]
“And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus.” [Ephesians 2:6]
“I can do all this through him who gives me strength.” [Philippians 4:13]
When you begin to comprehend your true identity in Christ, everything else starts to take its rightful place in order of deprioritizing their spiritual insignificance. Christ is everything. You have the mind of Christ. You are even now seated in Heaven with Christ. You may think you are a high school teacher or a dentist, but those are just occupations.
You are an eternal being, saved by the blood of the Lamb, with a place in Heaven forever. You think your life is found in your health and beauty and fame and fortune? Not even close. You are dust in the wind, but your soul will live for eternity. Get your priorities straight while you’re here. Your identity is found in Christ—nowhere else. It’s not found in your spouse, or in sex, or in a big house or wealth. Your true identity is found in your relationship with Jesus Christ alone.
Taken from Chuck Marunde’s book, Living For God: Pursuing Christ With Passion.