‘I remind you, my dear children: Your sins are forgiven in Jesus’ name. You veterans were in on the ground floor, and know the One who started all this; you newcomers have won a big victory over the Evil One. And a second reminder, dear children: You know the Father from personal experience. You veterans know the One who started it all; and you newcomers—such vitality and strength! God’s word is so steady in you. Your fellowship with God enables you to gain a victory over the Evil One. And a second reminder, dear children: You know the Father from personal experience. You veterans know the One who started it all; and you newcomers—such vitality and strength! God’s word is so steady in you. Your fellowship with God enables you to gain a victory over the Evil One. ‘ 1 John 2:13-14 MSG
To know God is to know yourself, because His word is a mirror of who you are and who He has made you to be. He says that as He is, so are we in this world. This is a truth that the enemy will not allow the minds of many to comprehend and so he will consistently instead cast visions of who they are not. The person who has not understood who they are in God, live a life of limitation.
As it is in life, most of the decisions you make and the things you encounter are primarily based on your identity as an individual. You’ll find that because you are a man or woman, for example, your decision to buy particular apparel or clothing is based on that fact; there are certain biological changes that will happen to you and your body for example, because of your gender; there are certain things that you can or can not do because you are human; basically the idea of what you will or will not do is based on your identity, and it’s because of this truth that our lives are defined the way they are.
Identity precedes the trials and tests. It is important to know that tests and trials don’t define you, they refine you; your mistakes and errors don’t define you, God does. ‘Consider it a sheer gift, friends, when tests and challenges come at you from all sides. You know that under pressure, your faith-life is forced into the open and shows its true colors. So don’t try to get out of anything prematurely. Let it do its work so you become mature and well-developed, not deficient in any way. James 1:2-4 MSG.
In the earlier article about the things that prove us, I was explaining the importance of not losing focus and attitude when certain things happen in our lives because they form the process that refines our character in God; today I felt it necessary for us to understand that primarily, its because of who we are that these things come to us, to prove us, to prove who we are.
In our opening Scripture, John writes to remind us about our forgiveness in Christ, our knowledge of God, our victory over the evil one, our vitality and strength, and our communion with God through which we are enabled and endowed. He does this to help us understand that when it comes to the place of living the life of salvation and walking in what God has called us to, we begin from a place of the understanding and acknowledgement of who we are.
Paul emphasizes the truth of us being the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus because he too realized that without that understanding, it is impossible to reign in life, to win and to walk in victory.
Take an example of a storied building that is constructed to last; the builder’s mind is that the building should be strong enough to hold the weight of the occupants in future, and to make sure of that, he will do due diligence to ensure that the right materials are used, and the right precautions are followed to achieve the desired goal.
Similarly, God took time to prepare you for your purpose, and so He used the right materials (made in Christ) and followed the right pattern to make you effective for your functioning and purpose on earth. The things that begin to happen in your walk are then because of who you are and what you are capable of. He did not make any mistake in allowing you to go through whatever it is; all He did was prepare you and give you the grace to endure all that should ever come to you because of your identity. ‘We have become his poetry, a re-created people that will fulfill the destiny he has given each of us, for we are joined to Jesus, the Anointed One. Even before we were born, God planned in advance our destiny and the good works we would do to fulfill it!’ Ephesians 2:10
In this life, you will go through the fire and the waters, you will encounter attacks, you will be faced with many things that may be uncomfortable or unpleasant, but always remember that it’s simply because of who you are. Even the strongest house that is built on a solid rock must be tested to prove its foundation. The bible says, ‘Though the rain comes in torrents and the floodwaters rise and the winds beat against that house, it won’t collapse because it is built on bedrock.’ The point of emphasis is not on what comes against the house, but rather its core and identity, what it is made of; it’s foundation.
There are things that might happen to you because of the bad choices or mistakes you made, but God has a way of making all things work together for the good of those that truly love Him and are called according to His purpose. The point is that it will always end in praise. Your end is of the Lord, if you stand.
So, let not your eyes be fixed on the circumstances and situations but instead let those things remind you that the only reason they came is to refine you to function effectively in your purpose. James encourages us to count it all Joy when we pass through such. He says, ‘Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles of any kind come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing.‘ James 1:2-4
Having been through a couple of events, I learnt not to judge myself or over think about the several assumptions that could explain why I was going through them; but in there, I was graced to stand in my identity and walk in the victory that Christ has given and made available for us. I was reminded of who I am and why these things were happening, and that helped me not to lose my sweet words, or my attitude towards the word of God and my response to these things. I found Peace.
When you learn to look through the lens of your identity in Christ, it helps you to not only maturely handle whatever happens in your life, but also to live your best life in God. May God give you insight into the reality of who you are in Him and what He has called you to be, and give you the grace to keep walking in that understanding to the glory of His name. Hallelujah!
Blessings.
#WiGTyT
