What is Your True Identity?

There has been a lot of talk lately about identity.  How do we define who we are, by our physical characteristics, or our inner feelings?  We can identify as many things, but what is our true identity?

Often we define ourselves by the relationships in our lives.  We might be a brother, sister, friend, coach or neighbor.  Each one of these roles means different things to different people, so these terms cannot fully describe our full identity.  Describing ourselves in such ways is relational – it cannot fully describe our identity independent of another person.  Plus, people come and go; our relationships change over time, so there must be more to who we are.

Another common way that we identify ourselves is through our work, or what we do.  For example, you might be an accountant, a high school student or a bus driver.  But this can also change, and this only describes what we do, not who we are.

So, how would you describe yourself?  Who are you?  What is your most fundamental identity?  The answer is that through baptism, you are an adopted son / daughter of God.  This reality is relational only to God Himself, a relationship that cannot and will not change no matter how things change in your life or what mistakes you might make.  This identity is fixed.

As a son / daughter of God, God loves you much more that you could ever know.  And as an heir to God, you are in line to inherit the Kingdom of God in its entirety.  The invitation has been made and is not revocable – you only need to accept it by professing Jesus as the Lord of your life.  Your brother, Jesus Christ, has paid your debt so that you can live with the Father, Son and Holy Spirit for eternity.

Take some time to reflect on your true identity, as a daughter or son of God.  What does this mean to you and in your life?  How does this affect the other relationships that you have?  Knowing our true identity as God sees us is the key to lasting peace and joy in our lives.