Understanding your identity is a foundation for the construction of your worldview. The knowledge of your origin, the understanding of your identity, is what helps your life make sense and your convictions constant.

“Jesus replied, ‘my testimony is true; for I know where I came from and where I am going”  John 8:14

You – as an idea – did not begin when you were born, or even when you were conceived. Neither are you just the product of your ancestry. Even if you could trace your ancestry back – as far back as Adam, that would not reveal who you truly are.

“…. He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love” Ephesians 1:4

We as humans precede creation! Before creation was, you were in Him, and He chose you to become part of creation. Although you are part of creation, your substance is eternal, without beginning and without end. He saw you in Himself, before creation. When we speak of that which is eternal, we can’t really use words that relate to time and space. Words such as ‘begin’ make no sense when describing that which is eternal. Yet, for the sake of description we can say that man began in the thought of God. This is the way our Father operates. Everything has its origin in Him.

“In the beginning was the (Logos) Word and the ‘Logos’ was with God and the ‘Logos’ was God. “All things were made by Him and without Him nothing was made that was made …”  1 John 1:1, 3

So much is revealed concerning us in the account of creation. We don’t have to guess at what ingredients were used for our ‘construction’. Our creation is the event in which God gave expression to His thoughts concerning us. A common understanding of the word ‘creation’ is making something out of nothing. It is true that the physical universe was created and God did not use any pre-existent physical substance to do it, but He did use a substance. The substance is called ‘LOGOS’.

As man lost his identity as God’s image bearer in creation, he also lost the plot and started the tedious and unsuccessful effort to regain his lost glory by himself. Mainly using the substances of money, sex and power man tried to achieve a sense of identity. All to no avail. God started sending messages to man that a day will come when he will be restored and glorified again by a miracle: man would be able to be born again. But, how? This is revealed to us – not by angels or prophets, but by the very Son of God!!!

'In the past God spoke to our ancestors through the prophets at many times and in various ways, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom also he made the universe. ' Hebrews 1:1-2 NIV

The Son of God is the very Word of God that recreated us into our original and intended identity!

'For you have been born again, not of perishable seed, but of imperishable, through the living and enduring word of God. ' 1 Peter 1:23 NIV

'For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. ' Ephesians 2:10 NIV

Do yourself a big favour…and study the “in Christ” phrases of the bible over this Christmas period. It will anchor your identity and solidify within you a Christ centred worldview – an incorruptible Christmas Present to yourself.