Has Your Identity Been Compromised?

In the 21st century world that is perpetually moving at the speed of light, we have become a society of go faster, more furious, “gotta have this, gotta have that,” more “friends,” more “followers” with iPhone calendars on overload, threatening to shut down our very existence.

I pose this question: Have you allowed your true identity to be compromised by this frenetic, fast-paced pseudo-reality in which we live?

Some experts say we have almost 7,000 thoughts per day. That’s almost double the amount from 30 or 40 years ago. What you do with those thoughts and what you believe about those thoughts dictate how you act and respond to all that stimuli. In a day where identity theft runs rampant, marketers and product producers are engaged in an attempt to seduce you into buying, purchasing and pursuing things to make you feel more “complete.”

All the while we attach and identify ourselves with titles, work, sports teams, TV shows, the latest fashions, the cars we drive and whatever is the latest craze, all in an attempt to belong. While all of this is swirling about in our daily lives, we spin slowly on the third rock from the sun, somewhere in space while Jesus is asking the question, “Who do YOU say that I am?”

Your answer to that question is directly proportional to whether or not your identity has been compromised. The fullness of everything you have ever desired is found in the person of Jesus. One encounter with Jesus pulled me out of an 18-year enslavement to addictions of every kind. I’m talking about a crazy, insane lifestyle that should have left me dead, in jail, or in an insane asylum! Instantly, I was consumed with a burning desire to follow Jesus, but I never truly knew who He said I was in Him.

I lived on what I call the Christian “yo-yo” for eight years, because I always thought I was a servant and never knew my God-given identity as a son. When you think like a servant, you work to earn something—the master’s approval. This mindset causes us to fall into the black hole of identity theft, attempting to “find ourselves” in every other thing known to mankind.

I was constantly trying to do more, go more and get more. Joyful one minute, depressed the next, peaceful one-minute, angry the next. I was so sick of living this way I began to seek God earnestly for an answer.

Have you ever heard of the law of perceived value? It is the price or value someone puts on a particular item, which dictates the price they are willing to pay. So ladies, let me jokingly pick on you for a minute. You know when you see that Louis Vuitton or Prada handbag, and it costs upwards of $2,000, and it’s like, “WOW! I have to have it!” Now, I see a few pieces of stitched leather that you put stuff in, that’s never really ever organized, and wonder why you don’t just use the plastic bags from the supermarket.

For full transparency and disclosure, I’m 100 percent certain I have some things you would feel the same way about! The point is, God put the highest value on YOU and paid the highest price for YOU! Yes, YOU … in sending His Son Jesus Christ to restore YOU into an intimate, joyful, passionate relationship with Him.

Please don’t misinterpret me. I’m not against having nice things; I really enjoy my jeep. But ask yourself, do you have your things or do your things have you? Because if your things, your job and your stuff are dictating your value and actions, YOUR identity is being compromised.

Then it happened: One day as I kept inquiring of the Lord how to get off the Christian “yo-yo,” these words just keep echoing over and over in my spirit: “My son, you have NOTHING TO PROVE.” I felt instant relief. After all my lost years in addiction, I was driven by a need to make up for lost time, succeed (whatever that means) and prove myself, all while acquiring stuff to soothe my soul.

What I’ve learned is that no matter what type of relationships I encounter in life, whether with my wife, friends or complete strangers, as long as I am walking in the truth of who God says I am, I no longer need to put wants, needs or expectations on others. I am fully satisfied and overflowing with the reality that I am a beloved son with whom the Father is well pleased … and so are YOU!

Let these thoughts sink in if you will …

In the history of creation, there is not one person into whom God has breathed life that is like you! Not one! You are entirely unique unto God, created in His image completely for His pleasure and enjoyment.

“For the Lord your God is living among you. He is a mighty savior. He will take delight in you with gladness. With his love, he will calm all your fears. He will rejoice over you with joyful songs”  (Zephaniah 3:17, NLT).

You are accepted!

You are righteous!

You are God’s workmanship!

Your identity is safe and secure in Him!

The most foolproof identity theft protection product on the market today is knowing and receiving the TRUTH that you ARE a son and that you ARE a daughter of a loving, living God who will satisfy every desire you have for love, acceptance and peace. When you receive this truth in your spirit, you don’t need anything else to fulfill you, because the cross was the greatest demonstration of just how valuable you are to your Creator, Your God and Your Loving Father.

Ask Him today, by the power of the Holy Spirit, to reveal to you who He says you are, because you are worth it.

“And what do you benefit if you gain the whole world but lose your own soul? Is anything worth more than your soul?” (Matthew 16:26, NLT)