The Good Of The Father (The Man In The Mirror) #1985

 

Now we all, with uncovered face, mirroring the Lords glory, are being transformed into the same image, from glory to glory, even as from the Lord, the spirit

Paul to the Corinthians (2) 3: 18, Concordant New Testament  

I ask the question every now and then to someone who is going through the gauntlet of constantly being exposed to the opinions of who someone else thinks that they are.  Who do you feel that you are?  Too many times I get the same answer as those who speak the lie to them.  Without realizing it, they've accepted the lie of their own false identity.  This is what the world tells them, so they believe that it must be true.  People wouldn't lie, right?  Now, when someone asks of me that same question I often get confused looks from others.  For I am not who you perceive me to be.  The image which I see in the mirror is that of Christ Jesus in Whom I live my life.  This might be a tough pill to swallow for those who have never been introduced to Jesus on a relationship basis, but it is indeed the truth of who it is that we are inside.  I am created in the Fathers likeness {Genesis 1:27}.  He has called me His own {First Epistle of Johns 3:1}.  Jesus Himself has proclaimed that my life is in union with He and the Father {Johns Account 14:20}.  The writer of Hebrews speaks to our encouraging others through love and good works {To the Hebrews 10:24}.  But we all know that the world around us is not populated with those who worship Jesus as we do.  This is why it is so very important that we know in our hearts where our one true identity lies.  Like I said, I live in the confidence of my life in Christ.  THAT is who I am.  Whatever imperfections that this flesh vessel of mine might present are no indication of the man that I am.  Too many people spend millions of dollars each year on so called "Self help" seminars and materials when all that they need to do is to realize who they truly are in the eyes of the Father.  It is God who has called me His son.  This is who I am.  I don't trust in the lies of the world to tell me otherwise.  

With Christ have I been crucified, yet I am living; no longer I, but living in me is Christ.  Now that which I am now living in the flesh, I am living in faith that is of the Son of God, Who loves me, and gives Himself up for me

Paul to the Galatians 2: 20, Concordant new testament 

It's pretty well known that the apostle Paul knew who he was in Christ.  He speaks to this in Galatians {Paul to the Galatians 2:20}.  Paul lived his life knowing in faith that the old man was dead and gone.  What remains is Christ Jesus.  Now, when I talk to others about the truth of their own identity in Jesus, I often toss a monkey wrench into that conversation.  Yes, your one true identity is in Christ, that is the truth spoken by the evangel of Paul.  Knowing this, how is it that you look upon those who speak unkind words to you?  Has not God created them in His likeness as well?  Obviously, it's easier to see that we are created in love by God, but we often chafe at the thought that God could create someone who would insult us.  But God was never selective in who He created.  ALL have been created in his likeness.  But wait, what about those wicked and evil people we often see and hear about?  Are you telling me that God created good as well as wickedness?  Yes, I am.  He is the creator of all we have or will ever know.  Now, I have not always believed in the truth of my life in Christ.  There was a time when I followed the mainstream church doctrine that there is indeed good and evil in the world.  That the good will be rewarded and the wicked punished.  There were times that I found myself treating others wrongly.  Did that change my identity in Jesus?  No!  My identity remains, despite my never knowing who I was until later in life.  In the movie Come Sunday, the reverend Carlton Pearson makes waves in his own congregation when he begins to speak to there not being a hell.  His basis on coming to this conclusion was questioning how someone who had never even heard or been taught the truth of Christ could be condemned by God to hell.  For his efforts, Pearson was eventually expelled from the congregation which he led.  But he had a point, will God condemn those who for one reason or another have never known Him?  I'd say no to that lie.  One of the most iconic and overused verses in scripture is John 3:16.  We understand that God dispatched His one and only Son.  Why?  Not for judgement, but that the WORLD may be saved through Him.  This is the desire of the Father, that all would come to know Him.  Not only that, but for His children to know their true identity in Him. 

~Scott~