Most of us carry some form of identification. In the past I have worn an ID badge from my employer around my neck or carried business cards. In my wallet right now I have three photo IDs from the Illinois Department of Motor Vehicles (until it expires), the Veterans’ Administration and my Pace ADA (disabled) bus pass. In addition, I have two insurance cards, my voter registration card, my library card and the debit/credit card from my bank. Even though I am quite capable of identifying myself to someone, those documents give third party proof that I am who I claim to be.
Before I continue, I want to make it clear that I am not writing about the current mind games going on in our society where someone can “identify” as anyone or anything they want in order to excuse behavior that normally would not be tolerated. Those “identifications” are not based on reality and cannot be confirmed by any third party because they are internal machinations.
What is it that forms our identity? Our last name is passed down to us by our father, and then wives usually take the last name of their husband. Our first and middle names are given to us by our parents at birth. In addition, we often assume nicknames with which we are comfortable. Jesus’ disciples, James and John were the sons of Zebedee, but Jesus nicknamed them Sons of Thunder. In New Testament times people were also identified by their hometown such as Jesus of Nazareth or Saul of Tarsus. Is our name really who we are?
Our true identity is more complicated than our name or our hometown because each of us is uniquely created. Unique DNA determines our gender and physical features. The environment of family and society determine our character and our mental and emotional reactions. We search for spiritual identity as well, but until we meet Jesus that search is fruitless.
I am James Michael Anderson (nickname Jim) originally from Evansville, Indiana, but because of God’s mercy and grace I also have a spiritual identity. I am a child of God. I didn’t have to earn it or prove my worthiness. God’s mercy released me from the death sentence for my sins and it was by His grace that He stamped my adoption approved; which is much more than I deserve.
There is one last observation. Just as I bear a family resemblance to my earthly father, I bear a family resemblance to my Heavenly Father when His Spirit within me bears fruit. Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control (Galatians 5:22-23) are the features of my Heavenly Father that can be seen in me.