Throughout the past couple of weeks (and pretty much my whole life) I have ran into the same question over and over again. Whether it has been brought up through studying a particular book, encouraging other friends, or challenging myself, the same question has repeatedly arisen. I have come to the reasonable conclusion that the answer to this question has the power to control so many different areas of my life. And rightfully so. So you may ask, "What the heck are you talking about Anna Lauren?" But this simple question has forced me to ponder hours and hours on how I choose to approach multiple situations in life. The question? Where do I choose to place my identity?
Jesus, of corse. Plain and simple. But the problem is that growing up in a "climb the ladder of success" type of culture, we have made this into a much more complex issue. We tend to find great worth and value in jobs, money, grades, appearance, and I could go on and on. But in the past week I was reminded of a great illustration I heard years ago that helped make the answer to this question, plain and simple.
In the 1997 movie Air Force One, Harrison Ford plays as the president of the United States by going to Moscow to give a speech on the "Zero Tolerance"policy. On his way home the president along with the many accompanying him run into trouble as terrorist attempt to attack Air Force One (I am about to spoil the ending, but it is worth it).
Fast forward to the ending (check it out here), and there are two planes flying side by side. One being Air Force One currently holding the president and the other, Liberty 24. As AFO is going down to crash, the president changes over to Liberty 24 and brought into safety. There he is reunited with his wife and daughter. As soon as he is aboard the plane the captain calls in and says, "Liberty 24 is changing calls. Liberty 24 is now Air Force One."
I think this is the perfect illustration of the gospel. As soon as the president was aboard Liberty 24 the entire identity of the plane changed. That was all it took...one man to step aboard.
As I examine my own life, this is exactly what it took. One man to step aboard and my entire identity changed. Jesus was all it took. Nothing more. Nothing less. I went from being a filthy, dirty sinner destined for hell to reckoned as righteous!
Romans 3:21-26 clearly shows this truth, "But now apart from the law the righteousness of God has been made known, to which the Law and the Prophets testify. This righteousness is given through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference between Jew and Gentile, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. God presented Christ as a sacrifice of atonement, through the shedding of his blood—to be received by faith. He did this to demonstrate his righteousness, because in his forbearance he had left the sins committed beforehand unpunished— he did it to demonstrate his righteousness at the present time, so as to be just and the one who justifies those who have faith in Jesus."
Because of this truth I do not have to place my identity in the ways the world views success, but rather I choose to let Jesus step aboard and control my identity.
No comments:
Post a Comment