Who Are You?

We’ve answered that question.

You are made in the image of God.

You have been given life and choice.

As Christians you are salt and light.

A chosen generation.

A royal priesthood.

A peculiar people.

The temple of God.

So now the question is, What Are you?

Have you ever considered the phases of your life? There are things, that if we live a normal life span, we all have in common. We are born. We are created in the image of God and given life. We are either male or female. We are a son or a daughter. A brother or a sister. A husband or a wife. A mother or a father. A grandmother or a grandfather.

In choices during our lives, we are either living in obedience to God or in willful disobedience to God. We are a good influence or a bad influence. At times of our lives we will have health and sickness. We may choose to have education, or no higher education. We may work or we may choose not to work. But we all arrive at death in the end, and then judgment from God based on our lives and our actions or inactions.

So if someone asked you what you are, based on the time and circumstances in our lives, we might have many different answers.

I can finally tell folks I’m a happy grandpa to my granddaughter, but that’s a phase I could never talk about before. Our lives move along in the swift current of time.

But remember, despite the various phases all of our lives move through, there are three things that are common to everyone who has ever lived, is living now, or will ever live (unless of course Jesus comes back first).

You are born. You die. The judgment.

And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment.

— Hebrews 9:27

It’s what you do in your life between your birth date and your death date that will determine where you spend eternity.

Linda Ellis wrote a poem called “The Dash” about the period of time between your birth and your death that is so compelling that certainly gives us pause to consider:

I read of a man who stood to speak
at the funeral of a friend.

He referred to the dates on the tombstone
from the beginning… to the end.

He noted that first came the date of birth
and spoke of the following date with tears,

but he said what mattered most of all
was the dash between those years.

For that dash represents all the time
they spent alive on earth

and how those who loved them know
what that little line is worth.

For it matters not how much we own,
the cars, the house, the cash.

What matters is how we live and love
and how we spend our dash.

So think about this long and hard.
Are there things that you’d like to change?

For you never know how much time is left
that still can be rearranged.

To be less quick to anger
and show appreciation more

and love the people in our lives
like we’ve never loved before.

If we treat each other with respect
and more often wear a smile,

remembering that this special dash
might only last a little while

So when your eulogy is being read,
with your life’s actions to rehash,

would you be proud of the things they say
about how you lived your dash?

So there it is and the question we all need to ask is what things do you do each day in your walk as a Christian?

Better yet, what does God say about our walk each day?

I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

— Romans 12:1-2

A living sacrifice.

Your reasonable service.

I heard someone say years ago something that was compelling and struck me to the core. They said, “live your life like your life itself is a prayer offered to God.”

Wow. Hit me in the head. I’d never considered that thought. But a living sacrifice. Pretty close, wouldn’t you say?

But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfill the lusts thereof.

— Romans 13:14

Make no provision for the flesh to fulfill the lusts thereof. But we don’t do that, do we?

It seems that everything we do is to fulfill the provisions for the lusts of the flesh. Think about it. Be honest. Examine yourself. Your life. The things in your life.

For whether we live, we live unto the Lord; and whether we die, we die unto the Lord: whether we live therefore, or die, we are the Lord’s. For to this end Christ both died, and rose, and revived, that he might be Lord both of the dead and living.

— Romans 14:8-9

For it is written, as I live, saith the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God. So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God.

— Romans 14:11-12

There are some passages in the word of God that are bone chilling. Frightening. Horrifying. This is one of them.

Every one of us shall give account to God.

Account of what?

Account of what we are. What we do with the time God gives us in our lives.

Time is a great equalizer, and just as God is no respecter of persons, neither is time. We all have exactly the same amount. 168 hours every week for the entirety of your life. Not a second more. Not a second less.

It amazes me that if one is faithful in attendance at church for three hours on Sunday and one hour mid-week that’s a total of four hours out of 168. And so many times we can’t worship the almighty God for whatever reason during service times, but we can go to work and worship the almighty dollar. Things that would keep us away from worshipping God would never keep us away from work. Think about it. Do you honestly believe God will not have you give an account of that when you see Him face to face? Really?

We will give an account of everything we have done, whether good or bad.

For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad.

— 2 Corinthians 5:10

According to that he hath done….such as?

Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.

— 1 Corinthians 10:31

Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ.

— 2 Corinthians 10:5

When you consider this statement, surely everything we think about or even think about doing needs to be brought into obedience to Christ. What would Jesus think here? What would Jesus do? By doing this, we become more obedient and submissive to his will in our everyday walks of life.

Would Jesus watch this television show or see this movie? Why do we?

Would Jesus read this book, or look at this web site, or enter into this blog, or listen to this podcast? Then why do we if we know the answer is blatantly no?

That means before you act, consider Jesus. His will. His desires. What his actions would be in this certain situation.

During the course of a day, we have many thoughts invading our head. What do you think about? Where did that thought come from? Was it planted from an ungodly TV show or movie, or book, or web site…where did the thought come from?

As a child of God, could the following be said of us every day?

O how love I thy law! It is my meditation all the day.

— Psalm 119:97

Every thought captive to the obedience of Christ!

I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.

— Galatians 2:20

Every thought captive to the obedience of Christ!

For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ.

— Galatians 3:27

Every thought captive to the obedience of Christ!

Neither give place to the devil.

— Ephesians 4:27

Every thought captive to the obedience of Christ!

But make no mistake about it: saying this is easy. However, bringing every thought captive to the obedience of Christ? Not so much.

Why? Because we try to ignore the reality of the situations in our lives so many times when it comes to Satan and his devices. The things he plants in our minds which we freely and willfully allow him to. But we are not ignorant, are we?

No we’re not. His devices are everywhere, in every place, just waiting to be planted in minds that are open to his lies.

Lest Satan should get an advantage of us: for we are not ignorant of his devices.

— 2 Corinthians 2:11

See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, redeeming the time, because the days are evil.

— Ephesians 5:15-16

Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content.

— Philippians 4:11

If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God. When Christ, who is our life shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory. Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleaness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry.

— Colossians 3:1-11

Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.

— Colossians 3:16-17

And that ye study to be quiet, and to do your own business, and to work with your own hands as we commanded you.

— 1 Thessalonians 4:11

Pray without ceasing.

— 1 Thessalonians 5:17

Till I come, give attendance to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine.

— 1 Timothy 4:13

But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into this world and it is certain that we can carry nothing out. And having food and raiment let us be therewith content.

— 1 Timothy 6:6-8

But what do we do so many times? Our thoughts cause us to be angry. Unhappy. To lash out. To murmur.

Do you murmur about things?

And the people murmured against Moses, saying, what shall we drink?

— Exodus 15:24

And the whole congregation of the children of Israel murmured against Moses and Aaron in the wilderness.

— Exodus 16:2

That murmuring thing didn’t work out too well for them did it?

As God liveth, who hath taken away my judgment; and the Almighty, who hath vexed my soul; all the while my breath is in me, and the spirit of God is in my nostrils; my lips shall not speak wickedness, nor my tongue utter deceit.

— Job 27:2-4

This comment from Job, a man covered in boils from his head to his toes. A man whose wife told him to curse God and die. A man whose children had been killed. A man who lost everything he had. A man whose friends even rebuked him.

Most of us will never know the turmoil and agony Job went through, but we murmur about the slightest of things, don’t we?

So what does God require of you? What does he want?

And now Israel, what doth the Lord thy God require of thee, but to fear the Lord thy God, to walk in all his ways, and to love him, and to serve the Lord thy God with all thy heart and all thy soul.

 — Deuteronomy 10:12

But take diligent heed to do the commandment and the law, which Moses the servant of the Lord charged you, to love the Lord your God, and to walk in all his ways, and to keep his commandments, and to cleave unto him, and to serve him with all your heart and with all your soul.

— Joshua 22:5

And if it seem evil unto you to serve the Lord, choose you this day whom ye will serve: whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.

— Joshua 24:15

God who changes not has shown us what he wants from us. Every minute of each day. As long as he allows us to live.

What is man?

What are you?

O Lord our Lord, how excellent is thy name in all the earth! Who hast set thy glory above the heavens. Out of the mouths of babes and sucklings hast thou ordained strength because of thine enemies, that though mightest still the enemy and the avenger. When I consider thy heavens, the work of thy fingers, the moon and the stars which thou hast ordained; what is man that thou are mindful of him? And the son of man that thou visitest him? For thou has made him a little lower than the angels, and hast crowned him with glory and honour. Thou madest him to have dominion over the works of thy hands; thou hast put all things under his feet. All sheep and oxen, yea, and the beasts of the field; the fowl of the air, and the fish of the sea, and whatsoever passeth through the paths of the seas. O Lord our Lord, how excellent is thy name in all the earth!

— Psalm 8

And consider this when we look at our future: what do we owe future generations? Our family? Our friends? Our fellow brothers and sisters in Christ? Those we love?

Now also when I am old and grayheaded, O God, forsake me not; until I have shewed thy strength unto this generation, and thy power to everyone that is to come.

— Psalm 71:18

When all is said and done, it’s not really all about you or me…

And he spake a parable unto them, saying, the ground of a certain rich man brought forth plentifully. And he thought within himself saying, What shall I do, because I have no room to bestow my fruits? And he said, This will I do: I will pull down my barn, and build greater; and there will I bestow all my fruits and my goods. And I will say to my soul, Soul, thou hast much good laid up for many years; take thine ease: eat, drink, and be merry. But God said unto him, Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided? So is he that layeth up treasures for himself, and is not rich toward God.

— Luke 12:16-21

No, it’s not really all about you or me. It’s about what you are as a living, breathing human being. It’s about redeeming your time properly in service to God. It’s about being transformed.

Renewed.

It’s about what we are as servants of God.

Examine yourselves.

Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates?

— 2 Corinthians 13:5

What Are You?