180 Degrees: The Search For Identity

Who am I?

Math Joke: How does an angle plow a field? With a protractor.

We’re nine weeks into my math-centred series, all about Jesus’ truths and following His way. Jesus calls us to follow His perfectly straight path (like a 180º angle). There are many ways to fall off that path, so we must stay alert.

Human nature is tragically selfish, and our world feeds on it. We’re constantly told to be ourselves and to express our true feelings (regardless of the cost to others). But deep down is the nagging feeling that we do not belong to ourselves. There’s this longing to identify with something greater.

Jesus says, “Place your identity and value in Me, not this world.” Conversely, human nature says, “Search yourself to find who you are.” Okay, cool…until you think, “What happens when I search myself and realize that I’m a terrible person?” This is the only realization you will make by searching yourself. Instead, let’s look not to the world, and not to ourselves, but to God. Let’s shift our mindset…

180 Degrees

Especially in the 21st century, humanity is lost when it comes to identity. So they embrace all sorts of sinful life patterns with the hope they’ll feel fulfilled. Or they sink into depression and purposelessness. James 4:2 (NLT) says…

“You want what you don’t have, so you scheme and kill to get it. You are jealous of what others have, but you can’t get it, so you fight and wage war to take it away from them. Yet you don’t have what you want because you don’t ask God for it.”

When we look for identity in the world or ourselves, we disregard God’s purpose for identity. I believe that Jesus alone is the source of truth and identity. If we place our value in who He says we are, we will find purpose.

Jesus wants our lives, but we must want to choose His way. God loves us, and He knows the world won’t fill us. Human nature wants identity to come from what we do, what we own, where we work, how big our house is, and so forth. This only leads to pride, comparison, and loneliness. What’s the solution?

Lessons from Marvel.

Last week I watched Marvel‘s Thunderbolts*. (It’s a movie about a team of “loser heroes” who unite and fight evil.) I assumed it would be just another action/comedy flick, but it wasn’t. Beyond the jokes and explosions, this movie raised the question of identity.

The main characters in the film all struggled – in some way – with loneliness or purposelessness. Some tried to shove it down, others tried to drink it away, and others hid. Each Thunderbolt was searching for identity, in the wrong places. No matter what they did, nothing filled the void within them. I think a lot of people will relate to this theme.

While Marvel’s solution to identity and loneliness was family and teamwork (which I wholeheartedly second), I think they should’ve gone one step further. Relationships are indeed the key to finding identity, but only because human relationships point to the relationship: fellowship with Jesus.

As a popular worship song goes, “I searched the world, but it couldn’t fill me.” Looking to the world for fulfillment will only disappoint us. The message behind Thunderbolts* says the world cannot bring meaning to our lives, only people can. Not work, not money, not alcohol, not fame.

Instead of searching the world for answers, think of these two words…

Follow Me.

Jesus has a simple invitation: “Come, follow me” (Matthew 4:19). When He said this to Simon and Andrew, they obeyed. In that moment their identity shifted from who they were and what they could do to who Jesus was, and what He could do. One thing many people miss: to follow Jesus, Simon and Andrew had to change everything.

God will always take you as you are, no matter how broken or sinful you may be. However, God will not let you stay that way. Through His power and strength, He will help you defeat sin. People fall for the lie that as long as their identity is in Christ, they can keep sinning. This is not true. We can never achieve perfection, but we can model our lives after Jesus.

Hebrews 12:1 (NLT) says…

“Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us.”

Jesus wants you. He alone can solve your identity crisis. He gives us hope. There are just two questions for you to answer:

• Will you seek identity in Christ?

• Will you submit to Him and fight sin?

You don’t have to change to know Jesus, but you must (and will) change once you know Jesus.

Jesus Takes Us As We Are

Jesus accepts and loves you, no matter what you’ve done. With one condition: You must want to follow Jesus and conquer sin. Simon and Andrew followed Jesus, but they also changed their lifestyle. They wanted what Jesus offered. I love the song Take Me As I Am by Lecrae, as it emphasizes this point beautifully.

If you’re struggling to find belonging, or if you don’t know who you are, I understand. We were all that way once. Romans 8:1 (NLT) declares, “So now there is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus.” If you’re looking for identity, look no further than Jesus Christ. He invites you to value Him above the things of earth. He invites you to follow Him. He also invites you to “leave your nets behind” and say goodbye to whatever is holding you back.

Because we can’t know who we are until we know whose we are. And we are His.

To quote 2 Corinthians 5:17 (NLT)…

“This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!”