So what can we learn about ourselves from Star Wars? Before we can go to a galaxy far, far away, we must go to a land long, long ago.
Moses said to God, “Suppose I go to the Israelites and say to them, ‘The God of your fathers has sent me to you,’ and they ask me, ‘What is his name?’ Then what shall I tell them?” God said to Moses, “I AM who I AM. This is what you are to say to the Israelites: ‘ I AM has sent me to you.'”
Exodus 3:13-14
I AM – the name of God. It just makes sense. God is who he is. Have you ever tried to explain the character of someone to another and words escape you? The best way to describe them is by simply stating their name. “He’s just…he’s Tim.” In the same way, God is…well, he is I AM.
The Bible says that we were created in the very image of God. And though we’ve gone away from our original design, there is still a deep, innate longing within our hearts to find our way to God. Even if you wouldn’t go as far as to say that, we all are searching for something; I just believe that something to be God.
Back to Star Wars. Luke and Leia Skywalker were separated at birth but years later they had an inherent feeling that they were connected. Eventually they found out their identities and it just made sense. In the same way, we were created to be complete when reunited with God. And when we finally realize that, two things happen: life begins to make sense and we begin to feel whole.
When I began to find out who God was, it felt like for the first time, I understood who I was. Since I was created in God’s image, then as I see him, I see myself. The more confident I am in I AM, the more confident I am in who I am.
Few things are more excruciating than to second guess everything you do. When I find my identity in Christ, it relieves a ton of pressure! I can stand up for what I believe in because I know that I am founded in something much stronger than my weak backbone. And in case you don’t know, my back is not strong!
In case I haven’t already, at some point I am going to let you down. Jesus, however, will never do that. And when you find your identity in whom you are in Christ, when I (or anyone else) let you down, you can still stand firm in who Christ is and who you are because of him and what he has done for you.
When your culture, your friends, or even those you look up to define your identity – when you find definition in anything but God – you become as inconsistent as that person or thing.
When you find your identity in Jesus,
you become as stable he is.
If baseball is your identity, you will be let down as your skills wane. When your money is your worth, you fluctuate with it. If Star Wars is your entire life, you need to find a new one. But God is who he is and he will never change. He will never sway. He will never fail.
I suck at life. But God is eternally perfect! Thankfully I am no longer my own, but I am who I AM.
- Where do you find your identity?
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