A person’s search for personal identity is really a quest for existence — the Who is accompanied by the Why. There must be a reason why I am here for my life not to be more than an accident of birth. The Who of Identity and the Why of Destiny are connected by the How of In Between.
But enough already of pop-psychology! The simplicity of it all is best seen in The Gospel of John, Chapter 13, verses 1-4:
“Now before the Feast of the Passover, WHEN JESUS KNEW THAT HIS HOUR WAS COME, that he should depart out of this world unto the Father, having loved his own which were in the world, he loved them to the end. And supper being ended, the devil having now put into the heart of Judas Iscariot Simon’s son, to betray him; Jesus KNOWING THAT THE FATHER HAD GIVEN ALL THINGS INTO HIS HANDS, AND THAT HE WAS COME FROM GOD AND WENT TO GOD, HE ROSE FROM SUPPER, AND LAID ASIDE HIS GARMENTS, AND TOOK A TOWEL, AND GIRDED HIMSELF. After that he poured water into a basin, AND BEGAN TO WASH THE DISCIPLES’ FEET, and to wipe them with the towel with which he was girded.”
Jesus knew that HIS TIME HAD COME to do what he was born to do; the purpose for which he had been born. HE KNEW HIS TIME, HIS PURPOSE, HIS PLACE OF ORIGIN, AND HIS DESTINY. He knew that ALL THINGS WERE NOW “IN HIS HANDS” — UNDER HIS AUTHORITY AND RESPONSIBILITY.
KNOWING these things, Jesus was able to DEMONSTRATE HUMILITY BY TAKING ON THE ROLE OF A SERVANT BY WASHING THE FEET OF HIS DISCIPLES!
SUMMARY: RECOGNIZE THE TIME, AND ACT WITH PURPOSE, KNOWING WHERE YOU CAME FROM AND WHERE YOU ARE GOING, ACCEPT RESPONSIBILITY, AND PUT ASIDE APPEARANCE AND DEMONSTRATE PERSONAL HUMILITY.
THINGS TO DO: BETWEEN KNOWING WHERE YOU CAME FROM AND WHERE YOU ARE GOING, FOCUS ON TIMING, AUTHORITY, RESPONSIBILITY, AND TO THOSE YOU LEAD, DEMONSTRATE HUMILITY.
I have observed Christians seeking their true identity in their genealogy, their family bloodlines, their parental genes — all of which relate to who they were, instead of as the New Creation that they are in Christ. The “old man” is who you once were, not who you now are. The Old You was crucified with Christ. Not only dead but also buried in baptism! The New You is your true identity: who you are in Jesus Christ.
The power of these things flows when you identify yourself with Jesus in his death and his burial. The New You came into being when you rose from the water of baptism, for through that you identified yourself with Jesus in his resurrection! Then there’s seeing yourself “in Christ” as he sits, enthroned, at the right hand of God (the greatest position of honour possible).
“Can you see yourself living in this lovely home?” asks the real estate agent (knowing that if you can and respond with “Yes, I can”, you’ll probably buy it). Seeing your old self as crucified with Christ and dead and buried with him in baptism, and confessing that, is wonderful! But seeing your new self as risen with Jesus and as enthroned in him in heaven is greater beyond description!
When you can see yourself in these things, you will then be able to do as Jesus did, as I’ve listed in the points above. Just stop seeking your old self in your new one!