Who Am I?

I have often wondered, “Who am I that God would be mindful of me?” Interestingly enough, King David had similar thoughts. He wrote them down in Psalm 8: “When I consider Your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which You have set in place, what is man that you are mindful of him, the son of man that you care for him?” (Psalm 8:3-4).

When I read the scriptures, God speaks. And in the pages of the Bible, I find myself, concealed in the personalities of God’s people throughout the ages. My flaws, my brokenness, my errors, my ignorance and my trust in the Lord are all attributes possessed by the men of renown, the heroes of the Bible.

Who am I? I am Adam. Naïve and ignorant of the mysteries of God. Created in His image, yet unable to live up to His expectations. I am fallen and in need of redemption. Without Christ I am nothing. I have hidden from the Lord and He has called out to me.

I am Abraham. And like Abraham, I was called away from my family and home and led to a place where my faith could grow and bear fruit so that it could be credited to me as righteousness. It took many years of hardship and trials that developed patience and prepared me for the mission God has laid out for me.

I am Moses. I have walked a difficult path in the desert of unrighteousness and have gained the experience to counsel others in difficult situations. I offer hope to those who will listen. The hope that can only be found in the gospel of Jesus Christ. The promise of eternal life in the promised land of the kingdom of heaven.

I am Samuel. I was called at a young age but did not know who was calling me. My heart was drawn to Christ despite my ignorance of the gospel but I did not respond to Him immediately. When Samuel was called by the Lord he thought it was Eli calling him, and three times he went to Eli’s side and asked if he had called him. The fourth time, Samuel responded as Eli had instructed him. “Speak, for your servant is listening.” (1 Samuel 3:2-10).

I RAN AWAY FROM THE LORD

I am Jonah. Jonah was called by God to go on a mission to the city of Nineveh. Jonah 1:1-3 tells us how Jonah went the opposite direction and tried to flee from the Lord. “The word of the Lord came to Jonah son of Amittai: ‘Go to the great city of Nineveh and preach against it, because its wickedness has come up before Me.’ But Jonah ran away from the Lord and headed for Tarshish.” I similarly ran away from the Lord, thinking I could be the master of my own destiny – but I could not escape Him.

I am David. I have come to realize that the Lord has searched me and knows me. He knows when I sit and when I rise. He knows my thoughts and discerns my going out and my lying down; He is familiar with all my ways. My sister Heather used to tell me I had a heart for God, like King David. And as David wrote in Psalm 139:7-12, I recognize that I cannot hide from God.

“Where can I go from Your Spirit? Where can I flee from Your presence? If I go up to the heavens, You are there; If I make my bed in the depths, You are there. If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea, even there Your hand will guide me, Your right hand will hold me fast. If I say, ‘Surely the darkness will hide me and the light become night around me,’ even the darkness will not be dark to You; the night will shine like the day, for darkness is as light to You.”

I am Lazarus: I was dead in my sin when Christ called me to awaken. I became alive when He called, even though I had yet to surrender to Him. I responded to His call and He led me out of darkness into light. He revealed to me the truth of His word and blessed me with a new life. Ephesians 2:1 speaks directly to me: “As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, in which you used to live when you followed the ways of the world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient.”

I am Paul: I am unworthy of this calling yet Jesus removed the scales from my eyes so that I could clearly see the path He had set out for me. My sin was great but His grace was greater and He picked me up, He dusted me off and He gave me a new purpose. He has led me to go places and to do things I have never dreamed of.

I am called to Christ not because of any worthiness I may possess, but because God has a purpose for me to serve Him. It is a calling that I could not resist and one that compelled me to do away with sin and seek His holiness. I was poor in spirit, but I have been comforted. I was made humble, and I now have an inheritance far greater than that which was lost. I hungered for righteousness, and now I am being filled. I have become merciful and I will be shown mercy. God is purifying my heart and giving me peace that transcends all understanding.

I AM A CHILD OF GOD

I am a child of God. John 1:12 reassures me, “Yet all who received Him, to those who believed in His name, He gave the right to become children of God – children born not of natural descent, nor human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God.”

And Romans 8:16-17 confirms this is true: “The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children. Now if we are children, then we are heirs – heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in His sufferings in order that we may also share in His glory.”

I am compelled to spread the gospel as long as there is breath in my lungs. As I age, I feel an increased sense of urgency and I am prepared to be an instrument of the love of Christ and bear fruit for Him. I cannot hesitate, even for a moment, on the path that I have committed to follow, because it is narrow and the gate ahead is small.

Paul shares similar sentiments in Philippians 3:12-14 and I am driven to maintain this mindset. “Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.”

I am John the Baptist. John’s ministry preceded Christ’s ministry and paved the way for Jesus. Today, we are surrounded by the signs that Jesus said would indicate His second coming was near. Like one calling out in the wilderness, I want to issue a wakeup call to people everywhere. The time is short! Repent and surrender the throne of your heart to Jesus Christ!

The fields are ripe for the harvest. Never before have so many of the things spoken of in the Bible regarding the last days been so obvious in world events. The Lord is about to gather His people! In Revelation 14:15 Jesus is given the directive from His Father, “Take your sickle and reap, because the time to reap has come, for the harvest of the earth is ripe.” I was created for such a time as this!

My message for Christians draws upon Paul’s words to the church at Thessalonica, “Now, brothers, about the times and dates, we do not need to write to you, for you know very well that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. While people are saying, ‘Peace and safety,’ destruction will come suddenly, as labor pains on a pregnant woman, and they will not escape. But you, brothers, are not in darkness so that this day should surprise you like a thief.” (1 Thessalonians 5:1-4).

MY IDENTITY IS FOUND IN CHRIST

Finally, I am clothed with Christ and when God looks at me, He sees the righteousness of Christ. Paul declares in Galatians 3:26-27. “You are all sons of God through faith in Jesus Christ, for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ.” I am a partner with Christ and I rely upon the faithfulness of Christ (1 Corinthians 1:9, Hebrews 3:14). Even more, my identity is found in Christ.

I am unified with Christ. “I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me.” (Galatians 2:20). And Colossians 3:3 confirms, “For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God.” Paul also teaches in 1 Corinthians 6:17, “But he who unites himself with the Lord is one with Him in spirit.” Jesus prayed for unity with all believers in John 17:20-23, of which I am one.

So, when I ask, “Who am I?”, the answer lies in the scriptures. The Bible reveals that I am part of a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God. I have been called out of the darkness into His wonderful light (1 Peter 2:9). I have been brought into close proximity with my Creator and He has shown me who I am. Who are You?