Who Are You?

Who Are You?
by David Brenneman

A few days after watching the movie "Overcomer" and I still dwell on these things that were either spoken of in the movie or were part of lyrics to the songs used.  I think both of these songs were used in it, if not, they both certainly apply to the theme of the movie.

I am created by God.
He designed me. So I'm not a mistake.
His Son died for me, just so I could be forgiven.
He picked me to be His own, so I'm chosen.
He redeemed me, so I am wanted.
He showed me Grace, just so I could be saved.
He has a future for me, because He loves me!
So I don't wonder anymore, Coach Harrison.
I AM a child of God!
I just wanted you to know.
- Hannah Scott

Thomas Hill: John, if I asked you who you are, what's the first thing that comes to mind?
John Harrison: I'm a basketball coach.
Thomas Hill: And if that's stripped away?
John Harrison: Well, I'm also a history teacher.
Thomas Hill: Okay. We take that away. Who are you?
John Harrison: Well, I'm a husband. I'm a father.
Thomas Hill: And God forbid that should ever change. But if it does, who are you?
John Harrison: I don't understand this game.
Thomas Hill: It's not a game, man. Who are you?
John Harrison: Um, I'm a white, American male.
Thomas Hill: [laughs] Yeah, that's for sure.
[laughs again]
Thomas Hill: Is there anything else?
John Harrison: Well, I'm a Christian.
Thomas Hill: And what does that mean?
John Harrison: It means follower of Christ.
Thomas Hill: And how important is that?
John Harrison: It's very important.
Thomas Hill: Interesting how it's so far down your list.
John Harrison: Wait a minute, I could easily have said Christian first.
Thomas Hill: Yeah, but you didn't. Look, John, your identity will be tied to whatever you give your heart to. It doesn't sound like the Lord has first place.
John Harrison: You're calling me a bad Christian?
Thomas Hill: Let me be a little direct: last time you were here, you said you'd pray for me. Did you?
John Harrison: [Looks down, grimaces] No.
Thomas Hill: No. For someone who knows the Lord, you're acting like somebody who doesn't. Which makes me wonder: what have you allowed to define you? When you lost your team, it didn't just disappoint you, it devastated you. Something, or someone, will have first place in your heart. But when you find your identity in the One Who created you, it'll change your whole perspective.
- interaction in the hospital between Coach Harrison and Thomas Hill

Who am I that the highest King would welcome me?
I was lost, but He brought me in
Oh, His love for me
Oh, His love for me
Who the Son sets free
Oh is free indeed
I'm a child of God, yes I am
Free at last, He has ransomed me
His grace runs deep
While I was a slave to sin, Jesus died for me
Yes, He died for me
Who the Son sets free
Oh is free indeed
I'm a child of God, yes I am
In my Father's house
There's a place for me
I'm a child of God, yes I am
I am chosen, not forsaken
I am who You say I am
You are for me, not against me
I am who You say I am
I am chosen, not forsaken
I am who You say I am
You are for me, not against me
I am who You say I am
I am chosen, not forsaken
I am who You say I am
You are for me, not against me
I am who You say I am
Oh, I am who You say I am
Yes, I am who You say I am
Who the Son sets free
Oh is free indeed
I'm a child of God, yes I am
In my Father's house
There's a place for me
I'm a child of God, yes I am
In my Father's house
There's a place for me
I'm a child of God, yes I am
-Hillsong Worship – 2019 “Who You Say I am”

I keep fighting voices in my mind that say I'm not enough
Every single lie that tells me I will never measure up
Am I more than just the sum of every high and every low?
Remind me once again just who I am because I need to know
Ooh-oh
You say I am loved when I can't feel a thing
You say I am strong when I think I am weak
And you say I am held when I am falling short
And when I don't belong, oh, You say I am Yours
And I believe (I), oh, I believe (I)
What You say of me (I)
I believe
The only thing that matters now is everything You think of me
In You, I find my worth, in You, I find my identity
Ooh-oh
You say I am loved when I can't feel a thing
You say I am strong when I think I am weak
And you say I am held when I am falling short
When I don't belong, oh, You say I am Yours
And I believe (I), oh, I believe (I)
What You say of me (I)
Oh, I believe
Taking all I have, and now I'm laying it at Your feet
You have every failure, God, You have every victory
Ooh-oh
You say I am loved when I can't feel a thing
You say I am strong when I think I am weak
You say I am held when I am falling short
When I don't belong, oh, You say I am Yours
And I believe (I), oh, I believe (I)
What You say of me (I)
I believe
Oh, I believe (I)
Yes, I believe (I)
What You say of me (I)
I believe
Lauren Daigle – 2018 “You Say”

At a point in the movie the Coach asks Hannah who she is.  She didn't really know the answer to that one.  The soon to be revealed thought dead Dad who wasn't had a very powerful question and answer time with the Coach.  The Principle of the school sits down with Hannah and shows her how to be saved.  Challenges her to read the first two chapters of Ephesians and to write down all that it says she is. 

In this life the enemy of God, his minions and even our own sin nature are going to try in every way both subtle and overt to get us to doubt, to think less of, or to marginalize who we are in Christ.

That's an absolute given.

I know that 4 months ago the enemy tried to get me to be devastated by the sudden loss of my job...the utter loss of my supposed 'identity'. 

My identity isn't in what I do for a living.  My successes or failures are not what are true about me. 

I am who my Savior says that I am.

Contrary to worldly opinion...in Heaven there are no such distinctions.   We are told, in detail, who inherits the Kingdom of God.  Who is permitted into His Heaven. 

Only Christ-followers.  Those with whom He has a relationship with. 

The truth of life is this:  'good' people don't always go to Heaven.

There's countless billions of people in Hell who were considered 'good' people by those of the world in which they lived.  Being a good Prodestant, a good Catholic, a good  Baptist, a good this or a good that is not the criteria for entry into Christ's Heaven.  Again, there's countless billions of those types of people in Hell because that's what they relied on in their life.  Their own standard of good.

We can easily be those who marginalize our life in Christ.  Float as it were between being dedicated and those who are not. 

The question for all of you my Dear Readers, is this:  How serious is your relationship with Jesus?

Let go of these worldly definitions of who you are.  We're upon that time of year in the United States for voting.   I am not defined by a political position.  There's those who are adamant about who they are as defined by a sports team.  I am not.  There's those who are self identifying as this or that.  Stay away from those ideologies. 

Who we are in Christ is a new creation, the old is passed away the new has come.

We are His workmanship created in Christ Jesus for good works that we might walk in them.  We will be defined by what we do in obedience to the will of God for us that shows the world that we are a follower of Jesus Christ, that Jesus Christ IS our much needed Savior and Lord that we had been in such need of.

Funny thing is, as said earlier, no such distinctions in Heaven.  Yet down here on Earth, so many professing Christians cause such descentions here on Earth and are actually driving people who are not yet saved AWAY from the Throne of Grace. 

As was the case in the part you read earlier of the interactions between the Coach and Thomas Hill...Thomas Hill is blind.  Yet he could see what the seeing Coach was blind to. 

We, unfortunately, because of both peer pressure or sometimes upbringing or even just the heavy circumstances of life, can give way to unhealthy things in our lives that are not showing our love for our Savior but the love of things of this world.  Probably a partial reason behind the passage that says to love not the world nor the things of the world. 

Being from Ohio, and seeing it for most of my 58 years on this planet, there's quite the following for Ohio State.  Yet so many millions of people both from Ohio and outside of it would be as devistated as the Coach was to lose his team if it were to go away.  People would be lost.  People would not know how to define themselves anymore.  They've unfortunately wrapped up either their whole or partial identity in being an OSU fan.  I know of many Christians whom at first glance you wouldn't know they were in fact Christian's but you certainly would know they were an OSU fan.  Both by how they spoke and what they were wearing. 

So how about you, my Dear Reader, who are you?  What have you allowed to define you? 

While I have lost a job 4 months ago I didn't lose my identity in Christ.  The Enemy of God and his minions lost on that count concerning me.  Those things we read in what Hannah said and the lyrics of those two songs?  Those are what define me. 

I am chosen, not foraken.
I am a child of God.
I am redeemed.
I am not a mistake, I was created by my God to be who I am in Christ.
I am loved.
I am not alone no matter what people tell me that I would be if I don't choose the path they say is right.
I am a co-heir with Christ.
I am forgiven.

I am saved by my Savior's work on the cross. 

After these things and more...
I am a husband to my Wife.
I am a provider for her and our 6 cats.
I am a writer.

I am not, however, defined by my employment status nor by my employment type or company.

Who are you?

All NASB Scripture Excerpts used by permission.
New American Standard Bible
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