There is an identity problem in our world that has led to great confusion. People are confused, not knowing who they are. They are searching for an identity, for a rock to stand on in a flooded stream. Some have went on journeys for the sole reason of “finding themselves” as if they were somewhere else. There are way too many poor, lost, wandering souls who are alienated from God’s original design and created identity.
There is a lot of misinformation that has led to the continuance of lost identities. We have in the world self-proclaimed luminaries that are full of darkness. They have complicated the simple formula of God’s identity for mankind and led people down wrong roads with their lamps of darkness.
The Bible actually describes such people with words that cannot be improved upon, “[They] became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened. / Professing to be wise, they became fools” (Romans 1:21b-22 NKJV). In my neck of the woods, we say they are educated beyond their intelligence. It is really not so much about ignorance as it is puppets of darkness dancing as light. Our government, media, universities, and even the church world are overstocked with these “blind leaders of the blind”.
I would like to take you on a quick journey back in time, to when God created the world. There, we find a pattern for our identity and purpose designed especially for man by God.
God made man in His likeness [Identity] and gave him dominion over the earth [Purpose].
“Then God said, “Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth” (Genesis 1:26 NKJV).
God made man in His “image” meaning resemblance not like in eyes and nose but as an intelligent being, able to create, solve problems, relate to others, and think. Man was to be God’s representative on the earth. Man was made in His “likeness”, as in similar shape and fashion. There is no creature on earth more like God than man. Man was made a triune being with a spirit, soul, and body—just as God is a triune being, as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
God gave man a task to take dominion over the earth. This was his purpose and responsibility.
There is nothing in the world that will give you more peace in your identity than to know who you are in God and nothing will give you more fulfillment than to know your God-given purpose.
Why the confusion? What is the remedy?
When we read on in the Genesis story, we find that man disobeyed God and the perfect world created by God became one of confusion, brokenness, fallen-ness, and death. This world of darkness, death, and brokenness is all we have known. We have tried to make sense of it by redefining our brokenness, excusing our sins, and living contrary to the truth. There is no reasoning with death and brokenness, it requires redemption and restoration.
Into this broken world God sent His Son Jesus to redeem mankind from his sin and brokenness, so that we could realign with the original identity and purpose of God through His Son. Christ identified with our sin and brokenness by His death and in His resurrection we can identify with His new life. God originally made us to be like Him. When we turn from our brokenness and sin, and begin to follow Jesus Christ to be like Him; we begin the journey of our identity in God through Christ and we begin to fulfill the purpose of God in us.
Yours on the Journey,
Harry L. Whitt
Pathway Journey 