Who am I? Seriously, who?

If I wake from a coma and no one is there to remind me who I am, how will I know which car in the parking lot belongs to me, which home is mine to enter? How will I know what is mine to use or give away or what profession I hold and to which boss and authority I answer? What if I was a vile human being before but I wake up not remembering that with a chance at being someone else? I have the choice to believe and accept the life from before or abandon all and start anew. When I was saved, it was like being woken from that coma and I turned to God, to the Bible, to tell me who I am. Forget who I was before. Forget who ruled over me before.

Who am I now? Seriously, who? I believe in God. I believe that Christ is my savior but what does that mean for me? Do I have a life of come what may, in which I am subject to evil in and around me as before, powerless only to hold on for death until I can be with God, promised only a life with Him AFTER this life is over? Or have I died already and woken up into a life of power, abundance, blessing, and authority over evil? If I am dead and Christ is alive in me, then whose power do I have? Whose authority have I been given? Not to say things won’t be infinitely different when we are spirit alone, but I am not there yet and, therefore, unconcerned because it will come in its time and my place is secured. I AM however, concerned as to the point of my current existence and the tools which I have been given. If I do not know who I am, how can I be who God intended me to be when He formed me in the womb, when He put a destiny in me for His kingdom,  predestined me to be conformed to the image of His Son (Ps 139:13 &16, Romans 8:29)?

Christ is my gateway to holiness (Col 1:22), perfection forever (Heb 10:14), the righteousness of God (Rom 3:22), power and authority in the earth (Luke 9:1).  I believe that Christ extends the spirit He bestowed upon His disciples to me as well, being one. Christ is as a man taking a far journey, who left his house, and gave his work and authority to me (Mark 13:34). I am adopted to sonship, heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ (Romans 8:15-17).  His seal is on my head, no other! (2 Cor 1:22) I do not live in the realm of the flesh but in the realm of the Spirit (Romans 8:9). The Spirit God gave me does not make me timid, but gives me power, love and self-discipline (2 Timothy 1:7).

I have overcome the evil one and (2 Cor 5:13) I can extinguish all his flaming arrows. (Eph 6:16) Not that the ruler of the air wasn’t able to come against me before I knew Christ, it’s just that he cannot now for I am seated in heavenly places (Eph 2:1-6). Satan was cast out of heaven and Christ gave me the ability to overcome all the power of the enemy (Luke 10:18 &19).  He still wanders about seeking to devour but I’m entirely capable of resisting (1 Peter 5). If I resist, he will flee (James 4:7). Furthermore, I am tempted by my own evil desire and enticed (james 1:14). But no temptation has overtaken me that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let me be tempted beyond my ability (1 Cor 10:13). I am powerful, full of power, not weakness (2 Timothy 1:6). It’s my job to fan into flame the gift of God, and live up to what I have attained (Phil 3:16).

 Paul admits not having reached it yet but continues to strive heavenward. Choose as you may to believe these things attainable only after death only when you reach the fullness of heaven separate from our earthly bodies. Or choose to embrace the possibility of reaching such goals during life, having believed that heaven is at hand now and we are seated in holy places with Christ currently. It’s your choice. Be it to me as I believe for faith was and is ALWAYS the key to spiritual gifts, revelations, and healing. Those in the wilderness died there for lack of faith. I would rather press on to a promised land in this very life. (2 Peter 1:4) I would rather participate in the divine nature, having escaped the corruption in the world caused by evil desires. I will try as hard as I may to possess the qualities that will keep me from being ineffective and unproductive in my knowledge of Christ. Most importantly, if I know who I am and who I’m meant to be, then I know what power I have, what hope I have, how great I am intended to become.

We have all been given a choice, and in making that choice head down a path. Only, that is not the end of our choosing.  Those who have chosen Christ walk toward the same end goal, but it is still up to us to choose the tools we carry and the toolbox is open to us all. Our way can be joyous or mournful, we can become strong or weak, we are able to let the enemy in or keep him out. We may display patience or impatience, gratitude or selfishness, love or hate, forgiveness or grudges, peace or wrath, self control or lack thereof. We can put on our armor or cast it off. As Christians we still have many, many choices to make.