Linda Buishas
Dr. Oliver Sacks wrote, “My problem with recognizing faces extends not only to my nearest and dearest ones, but also to myself. Thus, on several occasions I have apologized for almost bumping into a large, bearded man, only to realize that the large, bearded man was myself in a mirror.” Dr. Sacks suffered from prosopagnosia, a rare disorder that affects the ability to recognize faces, even one’s own. Imagine what an encumbrance that would be.
Yet, we all have similar encumbrances in our spirit. When we look into our spiritual mirror, what do we see? I believe that mankind’s inability to recognize our true spiritual selves is the world’s greatest cause of physical, mental, and emotional suffering. Thankfully, God has the cure for this disorder. It’s knowing, in our heart, who He says we are. God’s Word reveals an accurate reflection of our true selves, and yet we either don’t believe it or have never heard it. We suffer from the lack of knowledge that we are made in the image of God and that our true identity is in Christ Who died to give us new life.
A divine exchange took place on the cross when Jesus took upon Himself the identity of mankind. All of our guilt, perversity, rebellion, and the consequences we deserved were exchanged for all the goodness that is Jesus. Every time we think, act, or speak contrary to what God says about us or Himself, all negative thoughts or how we focus on problems, illnesses, or death reflect a lack of understanding of our victory in Christ and the abundant life and new identity Christ died to give us.
How firmly do we believe what God says? We are his children (Romans 8:15). We have been crucified with Christ, and He lives in us (Gal. 2:20). We are made alive with Christ (Eph. 2:5), healed by His stripes (1 Peter 2:24), free from condemnation (Rom. 8:1), reconciled to God (2 Cor. 5:18), new creations (2 Cor. 5:17), redeemed and forgiven (Colossians 1:14), saved by His grace through our faith (Eph 2:8), and sanctified (Heb 13:12). We have the mind of Christ! (Cor 2:16). We are temples of the Holy Spirit (1 Cor. 6:19), heirs of God and co-heirs with Jesus (Romans 8:17), sealed with the Holy Spirit (Eph 1:13), beloved (Eph 1:6), victorious (1 Cor 15:57), set free (John 8:31-36), complete in Him (Col. 2:10), and can do all things through Him who strengthens us! (Phil 4:13). Only believe!
May we walk in our spiritual identity so that there is no mistake that the one we see in our spiritual mirror is the one Christ freed us to be.
“I gave you all I was, as I hung upon that tree. How can you wish to remain the way you were before? Did you think so little of me?”
Have a triumphant Resurrection Day celebration, living out your identity in Christ who God says you are!