Identity

 

Proving My Identity

The Lord always gives me something I can share  in a devotional, but not always something I would choose.

This last week I had my credit cards stolen. It was where they were stolen that made it more upsetting. It was on Good Friday in church. I left my purse by my seat when I went up to one of the communion stations. It was the only time in the last week that I had left my purse unattended.

My current credit was expiring at the end of the month and the new one I had already received. Both cards were stolen.

When I needed my card to update some online accounts I was confused when it was not in my purse card pockets.i knew I hadn't used it for a while and always kept it in the same place. I searched my purse over and over thinking I was simply not seeing it...Then I searched the house, hoping I was just suffering a memory block. But both cards had disappeared.

Finally, I called the credit card company, and yes there was a purchase I had not made. At the time my card was used  I was in a care home visiting a  family member.

The agent was very kind and everything is made right...cards cancelled, fraud purchase refunded and a new card sent out.

It was not the first time I was robbed while in church.

Many years ago I left my purse in a Sunday School classroom hidden under my coat, while I slipped across the hall into an adjoining SS room. When I came back I noticed nothing amiss until I picked up my purse to go home and immediately knew it was too light! 

Yes...my wallet/pocketbook was gone. Stolen. In it were my driver's license , bank card, cheque book, birth certificate etc. Along with a cash gift I had received from my mother-in-law. It was all gone.

When I tried to have  my ID replaced I found I was in trouble.They needed one piece of ID to get another...or this one to get that one. I had none of them and so all my requests were denied. There was nothing they could do if I could not prove who I was.

I never felt so invalidated, so stripped of my identity. I could not prove I was who I was. I was a nobody!

Finally, one agent asked if I had a marriage certificate. YES!! that I had and with it I was able to work my way through replacing my other ID one by one.

I will never forget that feeling of being  so helplessly unable to prove who I was and therefore I no longer had any rights or privileges. 

I thought about that feeling of not being recognized for who I was and I wondered if it would be like standing in front of God's throne for judgment.

When we step out of this life we are stripped of everything we have. We take nothing  with us. Our earthly ID ,even if we did have it, is invalid in God's courtroom. We stand before Him completely alone. There is no one to speak on our behalf, no one who can vouch for us.

But then God speaks. He asks the question, "Do you have a marriage certificate? " Our heart leaps! YES, we have that! We are the bride of Christ. We have the seal of His Holy Spirit. God the Father looks at Jesus standing nearby. Jesus smiles and declares, " Yes, I know that one, they are mine.!" 
 Isaiah 43:1 says, "Fear not, for I have redeemed you. I have called you by your name. You are mine!" What incredibly reassuring words! 

All is well, our heavenly  citizenship 'card'  is stamped 'approved', and we are known for who we are in Jesus.

What a joy that will be, when we hear these words spoken to us, "well done  good and faithful servant....enter the joy of your Lord." Matt. 25:23 

"Blessed are those who are called to the marriage supper of the Lamb."

Rev. 19:9

Our identity is secure in Jesus. I love the passage in  Romans 8:14-17

"For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are the sons of God. For you did not receive the spirit of bandage again to fear , but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, 'Abba, Father'.

The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children , then heirs - heirs if God and joint  heirs with Christ, that we may also be glorified together!"