For 9 years, I practiced many hours each week to become the best violinist that I could. I was working hard, advancing, and the future of college options seemed to be bright. Then, my musical life changed. The abridged version of the story is that I switched over to playing the viola, and have ever since without looking back. Why is this story important? Because of how my identity had to change.
For the first few transitional years, I saw myself as a violinist who happened to be playing the viola. And I think that stunted my growth. I wasn't seeing myself in the new light of playing a different instrument, and what that meant in regards to my musicianship. It wasn't until I truly thought of myself as a violist, that I learned to embody the wonderfulness of the rich, complex sound of that instrument.
Identity.
We define ourselves through social media, through our careers, our networking connections, our accomplishment, our friends, and our possessions. On a Twitter account, you are asked to summarize your identity in 160 characters.
So why is it, that after being redeemed by Christ, being made pure in the Father's sight through Jesus's sacrifice, do we continue to maintain our worldly identity? Why do we see ourselves as citizens of this Earth, that just HAPPEN to be saved by Christ?
Our identity is in Christ, in God's kingdom. We are citizens of that kingdom!
And it is not until we view ourselves through that lens, through how Christ sees us, that we can truly embody all that it means to be redeemed by His sacrifice. Only then will we begin to see the wonder of God's kingdom, of the power that comes in His authority and is available to us. I urge you. Draw CLOSE to Him and allow God to resculpt your identity that reflects His glory. Then you will know the blessing of His kingdom, the community found therein, the beauty of serving others, and the joy of taking up your cross daily.
"And you were dead in your trespasses and sin in which you previously walked according to the ways of this world, according to the ruler who exercises authority over the lower heavens, the spirit now working in the disobedient. We too all previously lived among them in our fleshly desires, carrying out the inclinations of our flesh and thoughts, and we were by nature children under wrath as the others were also. But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love that He had for us made us alive with the Messiah even though we were dead in trespasses. You are saved by grace! Together with Christ Jesus He also raised us up and seated us in the heavens," Eph. 2: 1-6
LIVE as a citizen of God's kingdom on Earth, and know that, in Him, you are coming HOME!
