What Defines You?

If I were to ask you to tell me about yourself, what would you say?

         Would you tell me how many social media followers you have, what kind of designer shoes you wear, or what kind of phone you have? Would you first list the political party you associate with, your race, your nationality, or how much education or knowledge you have? Perhaps you would introduce yourself to me by telling me what other people think of you or even what sports team you cheer for.

            My point is this: how long would it take before you tell me that you’re a Christian?

            Here’s the problem: society places far too much importance on things such as the one I listed above. Political party affiliations, nationalities, races, and religion have divided many people, often damaging – and, in some cases, even ending – relationships that were worth more than the satisfaction of having the last word.

            As Christ-followers, we are called to base our identity not in the things the world says we should, but in Christ.

            So, then, friend, what are you allowing to define you?

            Maybe it’s something more like an illness or difficulty that you are facing. Perhaps you see yourself as someone who could never be happy, good enough, or accomplished. Maybe Satan has implanted such devious lies about who you are, were, or will be into your mind, and you began to believe them.

            Well, I’ve got awesome news for you! You do not have to live your life trapped in such lies! You don’t have to identify yourself by your depression, anxiety, illness, or season of life.

            If you have accepted Christ as your Lord and Saviour, your identity is forever secure in the One Who lovingly created you, not in earthly things, people, or accomplishments that can be taken away. You are God’s masterpiece, a one-of-a-kind original.

            In Him, you have the very same power that defeated death and sin. You have an inexplainable peace and an inexpressible joy because of Him. Your life is so valuable that the King of kings laid down His own life to save yours.

            You are a forgiven child of the Most High God whose sin He remembers no more.

            This is your God-given identity.

            All of those things I listed at the beginning of the article aren’t necessarily bad. In fact, many of them are rather important. But don’t allow temporary, earthly things to define you instead of your God-given identity. As a citizen of heaven, God has called you to “set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth” (Colossians 3:2, NKJV).

            Therefore, you don’t have to base your whole life, happiness, or peace on the fleeting things of this world. Instead, know that regardless of what does or does not happen, what come and what goes, you are secure and stable in Christ when everything else is shaking and crumbling around you.

            As Allie Beth Stuckey wrote in her book, You’re Not Enough (And That’s Okay), “When we follow Christ, we are never at risk of ‘losing ourselves’ because our identity is eternally found in Him.”

            So, friends, what are you allowing to define you? What are you building your life on? I pray it will always and only be Jesus Christ.

            Let’s do it together.

            -Olivia

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