Who Am I?

I’ve been doing a lot of radio this month in connection with the release of “More Christian than African-American—and other ways Jesus turned my life upside down.” Although the book touches on several changes that took place in my life, the biggest one is captured by the title—identity—so that’s what I’ve been talking about almost daily on these shows.

I expected a lot of feedback…and I expected most of it to be push back. But I’ve been surprised. Many of the people calling into radio shows and emailing me afterward have not only been supportive—they’ve been rejoicing. They’re telling me that they’re thankful for their black heritage but they see themselves as Christians first and foremost, which friends and family don’t always understand. As a result, they’ve felt alone. Until now.

I know exactly what they mean. Even though God gave me this message years ago and burned it deeply into my heart, I often felt alone myself…and tried to stay undercover with it. But as my mind has been renewed, the truth has not only set me free. It has set me on fire.

The enemy has deceived us for too long. He wants us to cling to earthly identities because he knows they’re devoid of power and blessing. Any earthly identity we cling to—be it race, ethnicity, gender, career title, socioeconomic status, fill in the blank—is an identity that is worldly and thus exists apart from God. God never intended for us to define ourselves that way. But ever since the fall of man, we have been lost. Searching. Grappling. Clinging to what we hope will bring meaning and purpose. Seeing ourselves through a fallen lens.

But God had a plan. He sent His Son to save us, not just so that we can one day go to heaven, but so that our entire beings could be transformed right now. In Christ, everything changes. “Therefore if any man is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things pass away; behold, new things have come” (2 Corinthians 5:17). All that we have known and been and believed passes away. It was part of another world—a fallen world—and we’ve been lifted out of that. “For He delivered us from the domain of darkness, and transferred us to the kingdom of His beloved Son” (Colossians 1:13). We’ve got a new Father, a new home, a new family, a new heart, and yes, a new identity.

And that identity is glorious! It’s an identity that was reserved for us from the foundation of the world, the one God always intended. It’s an identity that allows us to walk in close fellowship with the God of the universe. It’s the only one that holds true power and strength and blessing. It’s eternal. No wonder the enemy of our souls wants to keep us from walking in it.

Who am I? I am a child of the Most High God. I am a bond-servant of Jesus Christ. I am an alien and stranger in this world (1 Peter 2:11). I’m a citizen of heaven (Philippians 3:20). I’m forgiven, redeemed, blessed…and dead, at least, the old me. For I was one of the “old things” that passed away (and all those identities I clung to). But Christ is alive within me. In Him I live, move, and have my being (Acts 17:28).

“More Christian than African-American” is my own testimony of God’s grace and mercy. But I bet you’ve got one too. If your life—your very core—has been transformed by the power of Jesus Christ, I’m inviting you to share your God-sized change in the comments below. For you’ve been given this new identity, so that you may “proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light” (1 Peter 2:9).

Heavenly Father, I thank You for saving me and making me a new creation. Thank You for giving me an identity that is life-giving and eternal. Teach me more about who I am and how to walk in this higher identity. Help me to live, move, and have my being in You. In Jesus’ name, Amen.