Discovering Who You Are In Christ And Making Good Choices
Ephesians 1:11 (Message)-It’s in Christ that we find out who we are and what we are living for. Long before we first heard of Christ,…he had his eye on us, had designs on us for glorious living, part of the overall purpose he is working out in everything and everyone.
Recently, I was blessed to have a Bible study with a good friend at a Chinese restaurant. While paying my bill, I picked up one of the fortune cookies and left to return home. There I opened it and my fortune read, “Allow No One To Identify Your Character Except Yourself.”
On the one hand, it is good not to allow our character to be shaped by the people we are around. That will lead us just to be what everyone wants us to be, and that is not being an authentic person. But on the other hand, it is unwise to try and find our identity in ourselves separate and apart from God. The wiseman of Ecclesiastes learned this the hard way and he concluded that such a life apart from God is “vanity.” It is empty! There is no truly purposeful life apart from what our Creator intends for us! I know many people who have told me that their identity is wrapped up in lots of things. Some have told me it is their spouse; some in their sexual orientation: some in their role as a husband or a father: some in carrying on their family heritage; some in their career, etc. But all of these things fall into the same trap that Solomon fell into. Indeed, trying to find purpose in life apart from God’s plans are ultimately fruitless.
Colossians 1:16 (Message)-For everything, absolutely everything, above and below, visible and invisible,…everything got started in him and finds its purpose in him.
This highlights the danger of trying to allow ourselves to be identified by our own inclinations and characterizations. Man is not able to direct his own footsteps.
Jeremiah 17:9-The heart is deceitful above all things, And desperately wicked; Who can know it?
Rick Warren has well noted:
“The Bible says, “God’s wisdom… goes deep into the interior of his purposes… It’s not the latest message, but more like the oldest—what God determined as the way to bring out his best in us.” 5 God is not just the starting point of your life; he is the source of it. To discover your purpose in life you must turn to God’s Word, not the world’s wisdom. You must build your life on eternal truths, not pop psychology, success-motivation, or inspirational stories. The Bible says, “It’s in Christ that we find out who we are and what we are living for. Long before we first heard of Christ and got our hopes up, he had his eye on us, had designs on us for glorious living, part of the overall purpose he is working out in everything and everyone.” 6 This verse gives us three insights into your purpose. 1. You discover your identity and purpose through a relationship with Jesus Christ. If you don’t have such a relationship, I will later explain how to begin one. 2. God was thinking of you long before you ever thought about him. His purpose for your life predates your conception. He planned it before you existed, without your input! You may choose your career, your spouse, your hobbies, and many other parts of your life, but you don’t get to choose your purpose. 3. The purpose of your life fits into a much larger, cosmic purpose that God has designed for eternity. That’s what this book is about. Andrei Bitov, a Russian novelist, grew up under an atheistic Communist regime. But God got his attention one dreary day. He recalls, “In my twenty-seventh year, while riding the metro in Leningrad (now St. Petersburg) I was overcome with a despair so great that life seemed to stop at once, preempting the future entirely, let alone any meaning. Suddenly, all by itself, a phrase appeared: Without God life makes no sense. Repeating it in astonishment, I rode the phrase up like a moving staircase, got out of the metro and walked into God’s light.” 7 You may have felt in the dark about your purpose in life. Congratulations, you’re about to walk into the light.” (Rick Warren, The Purpose Driven Life: What on Earth Am I Here For? 168-187 (Kindle Edition): Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan)
Turn to Jesus and let Him define and unfold through His Word and His Providence your purpose in life. When you make decisions today, ask yourself how your choices will relate to the purpose God has for your life in Christ. Then, choose accordingly.
Psalm 25:4 (TPT)-Lord, direct me throughout my journey so I can experience your plans for my life. Reveal the life-paths that are pleasing to you.
Lord, guide me this day and help me to better understand Your purpose and plan for who I am in Christ. Lead me today to glorify You and be a light for those around me, pointing them to You. Lord, You are my only hope. I praise You and thank You. In Christ’s Name, Amen.