My True Identity
My True Identity
All the nations may walk in the name of their gods, but we will walk in the name of the LORD our God for ever and ever. (Micah 4:5)
I have watched the movie Batman Begins a few times and I remember a scene where Rachel (Bruce Wayne’s lifelong friend and love interest) tells Bruce “It’s not who you are underneath, but what you do that defines you.” Later in the film when Batman is about to jump from a rooftop, Rachel asks him “Who are you?” Batman’s response to her is “It’s not who I am underneath, but what I do that defines me.”
In studying the book of Micah, what we find is that both Israel and Judah have abandoned a right relationship with God. Their heart no longer belonged to God or at least not to God alone. In our study we can quickly identify a few reasons why God’s people chose to abandon Him.
Israel and Judah had a false sense of security. Where do we find security in our lives today? We very often find security in our routines or patterns in life. Our routines bring comfort which leads to security. Some find security and comfort in dark places such as addictions and vices. Ultimately we all might just be looking in the wrong place. Jesus tells us:
“I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one will snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of my Father's hand.” (John 10:28-29)
This verse tells exactly where we can find true security, where we can take comfort. True comfort and security come only from being in Christ. The Israelites put their trust in their kings, armies, fortified cities and political alliances. They had more trust in their army than they had in God, the one who promised to protect them. This is one place where they went wrong.
Israel and Judah all too often relied on various sources of false counsel. False counsel is a common problem in our world today. Many have chosen to ignore God’s word and council and subscribe to the thoughts and ideas of their favorite Hollywood star or their favorite cable news talk show host. In doing so many have created false gods for themselves.
When the adults have turned to outside sources for council the youth turn to the internet to tell them their options so they can choose what suits their feelings and thoughts. The internet is a smorgasbord of false council! The younger generations have abandoned seeking God’s word because the parents and even grandparents have done the same. Each choose to turn to their own source of misinformation.
When we seek council from a source other than God and His word, we chose our own way (something other than Christ and Christ alone), our own truth (something other than the truth of God’s word and God’s word alone) and ultimately our own life. Jesus tells us: “For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will save it.” (Luke 9:24) If any continue on this path they will not get to the Father. In the book of Micah we read God’s statement that “I will remove sorceries from your hands, and you will not have any more fortune-tellers.” One day all sources of false council will be removed.
Why do we do this? I think we can trace it back to our own sense of identity. How we define ourselves. Our routines and patterns help define us. They become a part of our identity. We seek false council because we want to be identified with and like the ones we choose for council. We follow after false gods of this world because it makes us unique and very often can bring about prestige.
There are many things competing for our heart in this world today that can easily establish our identity. If the world has our heart it has our allegiance and our wallet will follow. We can trace our allegiance and wallet back to our heart. What and where and to whom our heart belongs will define us in this world, in our own eyes and in the eyes of God.
When we allow Jesus to enter our heart, the Messiah will destroy all things that tempts us to put trust in ourselves and in ourselves alone. If Christ and Christ alone is in our heart we will no longer chose to ignore God’s word and council and we will no longer continue to subscribe to the thoughts and ideas of worldly people. If Christ and Christ alone is in our heart we can only worship the one true God. Idolatry, false idols and false Gods will fall away. To do this our heart has to belong to Christ and Christ alone!
If Batman was a Christian his answer would have been, “It’s not who I am underneath, or what I do, but who I am in Christ that defines me."
I am certainly no super hero. I actually am very much the opposite. I am less than the least of all of Gods people. But I am ok with this because I know my heart belongs to Jesus Christ and Jesus Christ alone. I am blessed to get to walk with and talk with my Lord and Savior each and every day. I know the one and true living God has provided guidance and protection for my meek existence in His Holy word which is my only source of council. And I find the only comfort and security that I need in the fact that my life is held in the hand of Christ. In all humility I say that, only, who I am in Christ is what defines me. I pray that you say the same.
"I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me ..." (Galatians 2:20).
God Bless,
Pastor Rick Gault
Kings Creek Union Chapel