Sermonette: Who I Am

Identity. It’s one of major topics of conversation in our world. We debate who can define our identity. We debate the different kinds of identity. We debate how others are supposed to respond to our identity. Who’s male and who’s female? Do I get to determine for myself, or is there an absolute measure? If I can define for myself, at which age am I mature enough to draw that conclusion? What race am I? Can I choose which ones define me and which ones don’t? What about babies in utero/fetuses? Are they human? Who gets to decide that? All of these debates, and many more, circle around the single idea of identity. Who am I?

Those close to me know that I am prone to being drawn into these discussions. I’ve used science, I’ve used logic, I’ve used the Bible, and on occasion, even emotions have played a part in my wrestling with the idea of ‘who am I?’ Lately, however, I’ve realized that I’ve been coming at the discussion all wrong. I should have realized something was wrong when the conversation got so complicated. In my experience, the biggest questions often have the simplest answers. The question of identity is no different. In my case, the answer was buried in faint memories from Sunday School.

I was raised going to church, and over the years I had many teachers. Many instructors who tried to educate me on all sorts of Biblical lessons, that more often than not, fell on deaf ears. Personally, the lessons I discarded most often were the simple ones. The ‘yeah, duh’ lessons. One of these simple lessons I was told repeatedly was that I was a child of God.

But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God. John 1:12-13

See, when we’re talking about identity, only one thing matters: what God sees. It doesn’t serve anyone to debate and argue about what we think about identity; ours or others. What matters is how God sees us. When we talk about gender, race, or any other forms of identity that may arise, we first need to start from the basis of “how does God see me?” Then, and only then, can we move forward towards the other questions about identity.

Today, I plead with you to recognize who you truly are. Before you start worrying about lesser issues of sexuality, race, and such, worry about how God sees you. Spend time in His word and rest in how the Almighty sees you. Let Him tell you who you are. In a world of noise and opinions, theories and ideologies, may we be defined by our creator and Him alone. I guarantee it’s better than you could ever hope for.