Who are You and Why are You Here?

Identity theft is rampant in the world today.  Even more alarming is the number of Christians who are looking for their real identity.

I’m looking for You, God

I was 32, a recovering alcoholic, and a new Christian. I wanted to really know God. I’d been reading everything about God I could get my hands on.   I was learning about Him, but I really didn’t know Him. I asked God to take me out of my busy, townhouse-on-a-golf-course, lawyer life so I could really get to know Him.  He sent me to China.  I didn’t see that coming!  But I went to China to meet God.

I’m here, son.
I went all over Beijing asking missionaries, “Do you hear God?” “How do you experience God?”  I developed a reputation. Some “friends” even tried to warn the beautiful woman who is now my wife about me, “He asks strange questions!”  I still do.

But I met God. I felt His presence.  He talked to me. He loved me. I didn’t just know about Him; I met Him. He was real, tangible and undeniable. I am a son, a much-loved son. Yet, I struggled letting Him love me.  “What do you want me to do?” I asked.  No response.  It took years for me to let God love me into my identity.  My first and greatest calling is to “be” His son.

You are Family
You are a son, a daughter. You exist because Father God wanted you. Your parents may not have planned you or even wanted you, but God did!  He created you to enjoy being with Him, to become like Him, and to do things together – amazing things!

See how very much our Father loves us, for he calls us his children, and that is what we are! But the people who belong to this world don’t recognize that we are God’s children because they don’t know him. 1 John 3:1 (NLT)

… you received the Spirit of sonship. And by him we cry, “Abba, Father.” The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children. Romans 8:15-16 (RSV)

Our relationship to God defines us. It gives us identity, significance, acceptance, love, joy, peace…. All the desires of the human heart are fulfilled through relationship with our loving Father who planted those desires in our hearts so that we would draw near to him.  (Read Philippians 2:13, Psalm 37:4)

Why are You Here? 

God owns Earth, but Men Rule it.
The earth is God’s.  It is part of His kingdom. God gave Adam and his descendants (that’s us) stewardship of the Earth.

God blessed them and said to them, “Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky and over every living creature that moves on the ground.”  Genesis 1:28 (NIV)

Adam Gave It Away
You know what happened next.  Adam let Satan into the garden, obeyed Satan and disobeyed God.  Adam gave Satan dominion over the earth in one rotten day.

Don’t you realize that you become the slave of whatever you choose to obey? Romans 6:16 (NLT)

…the whole world is under the control of the evil one [Satan]  1 John 5:19 (NIV)

Jesus took it back.
Jesus came to earth as a man and by living a sinless life took back the authority Satan stole from Adam.  (Hebrews 2:14-15)

Then Jesus came to them and said, “ All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me .”  Matthew 28:18 (NIV)

Our purpose, working with Jesus, is to establish the Kingdom of God here on this earth.  We are to fill the earth and exercise God’s authority over the place He gives us.   Our home, neighborhood, our “mountain of influence” (religion, family, education, government, media, arts and entertainment, business).

I have given you authority  to trample on snakes and scorpions and  to overcome all the power of the enemy; nothing will harm you.  Luke 10:19 (NIV)

For everyone who has been born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith. Who is it that overcomes the world except the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God? 1 John 5:4-5 (ESV)

Influence Your World for God
Authority means “the ability to influence thought, opinion or action.”  Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary

God’s plan for man is clear:

1.  Family Relationship
Everything God does is through relationship. First, we come back to Him, to the family.
With Him – everything!! John 15:5 (see NIV)
Without Him – nothing!! Philippians 1:13 (see NIV)

2. Authority / Influence
In relationship to Jesus, we live a life of godly influence that establishes the kingdom of God on earth.  His authority is ours.

While He was here, Jesus said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”  John 8:12.

Jesus passed that light to us when He sent the Holy Spirit to live in us. “ You are the light of the world.” Matthew 5:14

This is God’s plan.  His ways (His strategies and His tactics) will be the subject of future articles.

How does it make you feel to know that the first part of God’s plan for you is being with Him and letting Him love you?