I may date myself a little, but I like a few of the songs that came out of the ‘60s. There was a group back then called The Turtles. They may not ring a bell with you, but maybe their more famous song does. See if you remember these words... “Me and you, and you and me. No matter how they toss the dice, it had to be. The only one for me is you and you for me. So happy together.”
What this song reminds us of is that there is a lot of emphasis on “me”, on the self. What is baffling about this emphasis is how little we understand ourselves, and yet we do not involve God who created us, to help us define who we are. We often define ourselves by our jobs, our relationships, what we achieve or possess. Even when it comes to our souls, the part of us that lasts forever, we basically assume we are all good people.
The real question is, “How does God define us?”
When an author writes a book, he or she has the great privilege of creating, shaping and defining the personality of each of the characters in his or her story. So it is with the author of the human race.
One of the ways God defines us is that He sees us as a special creation.
In Genesis 2:7 it says that “God breathed into [Adam’s] nostrils the breath of life.” What it is saying is that when God put life into the first man, Adam’s first experience was a face-to-face encounter with God. And every man and woman created since has been created in God’s image. When we are in our mother’s womb we are in the hands of the master craftsman who skillfully designs us according to His wisdom and pleasure. You are as God designed you to be.
God also defines you by your flaws. He knows that we have rebelled against Him, we knowingly do things He says are wrong.
But at the same time we are of such infinite worth and value to Him that He allowed His Son, Jesus to suffer and die on a cross to save us.
We cannot escape our sinfulness, but Jesus made it possible for us to be forgiven and to be in a right relationship with God once again. And when we come to God, flaws and all, ask His forgiveness, He not only forgives us, but redefines us all over again.
But there is one more way God wants to define you and that is as a new creation. Second Corinthians 5:17 says, “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.” You see, God defines you by your relationship to Jesus. When you make the decision to accept that Jesus loved you enough to die for your sin, you are a new creation. You’re free, you’re gifted, you’re valuable, you have purpose and meaning and you belong to God’s family. Now, all of this sounds pretty radical. Even hard to swallow. But today God wants you to take the first step by asking Him, “God, help me to understand just a little bit of how you see me and even a little of how you want to see me.” Then live with an open heart and mind and allow God to speak to you. You will find that He is defining you in a spectacular way.
How are you defining yourself? Is it time to change your definition? Listen to God’s definition, it will change how you see yourself!
This Faith Matters column was provided by Tri-Community Baptist Church in Beiseker.
