Outsider Insight – {Recreated}

Outsider Insight
Recreated
By: Aleesa McArthur

Identity is something our culture is worried about. Many times during a day the idea of not measuring up to “perfection” can be heard around the school. Human nature has skewed our concept of beauty and identity. It has created a misconception of who we really are. The world says that you are damaged, broken, unworthy, unqualified, and even unlovable because of our past. Due to this perception we fail to see beauty in our lives at all. Our eyes have been closed to even a glimpse of hope and beauty; and if someone compliments us we immediately deny it and convince ourselves they are lying or just being nice.

Before each person was created, God created a beautiful person who is perfect. In Genesis 1 the image of humanity is seen: “So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them. Then God blessed them…Then God saw everything that He had made, and indeed it was very good.” (v 27-28a, 31a). Look at the nature all around. The same Creator who created the universe and everything in it created you with an even greater beauty. The Lord did not make animals or nature in His image, we are the only created things made in His image. He also does not make “mess-ups.”

Although you may believe that you are not qualified to do a specific task; think again. According to Brandon Schwintek qualification is through guidance and training. Because “guidance and training gives you insight and an example of how to preform [sic] the specific task.” Throughout the Bible there are many passages that talk about training for the battle of this world. In Colossians 1 Paul is writing to the church of Colosse reminding them that they are “qualified to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in the light. He [Jesus] has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His love, in whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins.” When Christ rose from the grave He defeated death and overcame the world completely. Therefore, if we are of Him what the world tells us has no power.

Tofer Paul said that, “You’re qualified not because of something you did but because of what Jesus did.” When Christ died on the cross, He bore the weight of every wrongdoing (past, present, and future) of the world including you. Through His blood you are qualified.

Your identity is who you are in Christ; not what the world tells you. Through Jesus’ blood we have a clean slate and recreated lives. Tenth Avenue North’s song “You Are More” talks about this concept; “Cause this is not about what you’ve done, but what’s been done for you. This is not about where you’ve been but where your brokenness bring you to. This is not about what you feel, but what He felt to forgiven you, and what He felt to make you loved… You are more than the choices that you’ve made, you are more than the sum of your past mistakes, you are more than the problems you create, you’ve been remade.”

You may believe that you are broken, messed up, unlovable, etc. because the world tells you that; but that is not the case. It may seem that because of our past choices, brokenness, we are not qualified for the task at hand. Consider this, your brokenness qualifies you. When the Lord presents us with a task, He knows we are sinful and imperfect but He doesn’t want perfect people to help broken people; He wants broken people to help other broken people. Jill McKee says what qualifies someone is “confidence. No matter what the task, go at it with confidence. Confidence the Lord is by your side and will give you the strength to do anything and everything.” Confidence in brokenness is beautiful.

Identity is something that people will continue to figure out; but, it all points back to what Jesus did on the cross.