Articles
WHOSE AM I?
In the movie “Lion King,” an important turning point in the story is when Simba is forced to
answer the question, “Who am I?” Because of unfortunate circumstances and time away from his
“home life,” Simba had lost (or hidden deep down) who he was and who he had become. It is
also possible in our lives as Christians, that we lose perspective from time to time and forget who
we are and the lives we are to be living. And so, it is important from time to time to ask the
question, “Who am I?”
So, who are you? Who have you become? Are you being the light to the world you promised
to be when you committed your life to Christ? Are you being the servant you promised to be
when you were baptized into Christ? Are you growing up in the Lord and taking on His
reflection? Or is it possible you have forgotten who you promised to be and committed to be
when you put Christ on in baptism? Paul reminded the church in Ephesus, “And you were dead
in your trespasses and sins, in which you formerly walked, … But God, being rich in mercy,
because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in our
transgressions, made us alive together with Christ…” (Ephesians 2:1-7).
Our lives in Christ (Gal. 3:27) take on a different look from our “previous” lives. No longer
conformed or fashioned by the world, but transformed [changed] by the renewing of our minds
(Rom. 12:2). And it is a daily challenge to remind ourselves or evaluate (2 Cor. 13:5) as to who
we are and the life we are living: whether for the Lord or for Satan [the world!]. Yes, when we
embrace the world and all it has to offer, then we are serving Satan, not our Heavenly Father (1
John 2:15-17).
Now, look closer at the title. The title of this article is not “Who am I?”, but “Whose Am I?”
Just a reminder as we consider who we are and what role we play in life that we are not our own
for our own benefit. We have been bought with a price —the precious blood of Jesus (1 Cor.
6:20; 7:23; Acts 20:28) —to “glorify God.” In other words, all that we say, do, and think is to
glorify God. What we wear and in what activities we participate are all to glorify God. But just
like Simba, we may find ourselves from time to time asking the question, “Who am I?” Maybe it
is time to ask the greater question, “Whose am I?” And when we get that answer right, then we
can truly be the light God wants us to be (Mt. 5:16).
So, “whose are you?” Are you living a committed life for the Lord each moment of each
day? Or, are you still living for yourself ? ~P. Mowrer
