Who Are You?

When you hear the word ‘identity’, what comes to mind? It could be who a person is or what characterises a person, no wonder an identity card tells a little about a person. There are a number of definitions I have come by ranging from identity being ‘the distinct personality of an individual regarded as a persisting entity’, ‘the fact of being who or what a person or thing is’, ‘a close similarity or affinity’ to ‘a transformation that leaves an object unchanged’, ‘who a person is or the qualities of a person or group that makes them different from others’. Looking closely at the latter definition, it encompasses all there is about the word ‘identity’. It talks about who a person is, the qualities of a person and most importantly what stands a person out i.e. DIFFERENCE.

Identity provides us with the means of answering the question ‘WHO ARE YOU’? In other words your identity is who you are. However overtime, there has been a problem of identity in the Christian world today. Most identities have been determined by circumstances, culture, public opinion, family background and so on and this has given the devil a pathway into many lives. One thing to note is that as Christians, our identity is in Christ Jesus, we are who He says we are; a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, peculiar people, called to show forth His praises. One may ask ‘why is identity so important?’ I’ll tell you.

Luke 6:43-45(MSG) You don’t get wormy apples off a healthy tree, nor good apples off a diseased tree.

The health of the apple tells the health of the tree. IT’S WHO YOU ARE, NOT WHAT YOU SAY THAT COUNTS. Your true being flows over into true words and deeds.”The health of the apple tells the health of the tree not otherwise, in other words, the most important thing is the tree and not necessarily the apple because the tree determines the nature of the apple. Hence, if the tree is bad then the apple is bad but if otherwise i.e. if the tree is good then the apple is good. If you see an apple, you’ll know that the tree from which it stems is an apple tree, likewise an orange fruit or a banana. “…figs are never gathered from thorn bushes and grapes are not picked from bramble bushes” A good person produces good things from the treasury of a good heart and an evil person produces evil things from the treasury of an evil heart. What you say flows from what is in your heart and what is in your heart is as a result of your understanding of your identity; i.e. who you are. It follows therefore that it is who you are not what you say or do that counts. Therefore WHO ARE YOU?

Many times when this question is asked, people start by telling their names, status, if students they tell their department and level, if working class they give their job description and so on. However, I believe the question is far beyond the answers that have been given overtime. The same way in an interview where the interviewer asks the question ‘can we meet you?’ or ‘can you please introduce yourself?’ of course the name is important but then they expect more than just the name, they want to know who you are, what makes you different from others; your identity, that distinct personality of yours. And from the explanation above, it is quite easy to tell who a person is. (By their fruits, we shall know them). You might be thinking what all of these has to do with your life, but I must say it has a whole lot to do with it. Our identity is very important because who we are goes round to determine all about us. It is your knowledge of your identity that influences your words and actions. A man who doesn’t know about his identity will walk the earth like a purposeless person and would gladly wear any identity thrown at him by situations and circumstances. A man who is identified with Christ and walks in that knowledge can be easily spotted and the same goes for one who is not. Don’t give room for circumstances around you to define who you are, don’t let friends or family members define who you are because if they do it would affect your world sooner or later. Be identified with Christ and be who He says you are.

Romans 12:3 I’m speaking to you out of deep gratitude for all that God has given me, and especially as I have responsibilities in relation to you. Living then, as every one of you does, in pure grace, it’s important that you not misinterpret yourselves as people who are bringing this goodness to God. No, God brings it all to you. THE ONLY ACCURATE WAY TO UNDERSTAND OURSELVES IS BY WHO GOD IS and by what he does for us, not by who we are and what we do for him.” Our identity is locked up in Him.

I’m sure we’ve all come across the quote which says “watch your thoughts they become words, watch your words they become actions…” Matthew 12:34 (AMP)…for out of the fullness (the overflow, the superabundance) of the heart the mouth speaks. Now you might want to ask yourself some certain questions; what am I full of? What fruits do I bear? What kind of tree am I? All of these are expositions into the importance of a person’s identity and that is why a person who does not know who he is or what he represents lives a confused life. A prince who does not know his rightful place as an heir to the throne shouldn’t be surprised if treated less than who he is or ought to be. When you know who you are and you are confident and
certain about your identity, you won’t lose sight of your destination. If people possess knowledge of who they are and who God is, if they know their rights, their privileges and their dominion, they won’t be destroyed. Be confident of who you are and what you possess. Hebrews 4:16 (AMP); Let us FEARLESSLY AND CONFIDENTLY AND BOLDLY draw near to the throne of Grace…
Blessed be God for I know who I am and what I represent. I am designed and crafted by God, created in His own Image, I represent Christ. 2 Corinthians 10:8 (MSG);“…Believe me, I am quite sure of my standing with Christ…” We need to live up to the full potential of what belongs to us in Christ Jesus. God made us the same class of being that He is Himself, He has made us as much like Himself as possible.

Psalms 8:4-5 (AMP) What is man that you are mindful of him, and the son of (earthborn) man that you care for him? Yet you have made him but a little lower than God (or heavenly beings), and you have crowned him with glory and honour.

Don’t forget who you are; don’t forget who He is, don’t forget what He has done and who He has made you. Ephesians 2:2-6… So, WHO ARE YOU?

If you learned a few things from this post, please do not keep it to yourself. Do well to share. God bless you.

Olanike.