Who do you think you are?

Who do you think you are?

‘AWord from the Pastor’ By Clayton Adams

“Who Do You Think You Are?” Is the name of a show on The Learning Channel (TLC). Finding Your Roots, is a similar show on Public Broadcasting Stations (PBS).

These shows investigate the family histories of famous people. The subjects are always surprised and have looks of total amazement upon discovering they are not who or even what they thought they were.

Who do you think you are?

Perhaps, you are not the person you think you are. God changed the names of many people in the Bible. In Genesis 5:5, God changed Abram to Abraham, recognizing that fact that Abraham was the “…father of many nations.” In verse 15, Sarai was changed to Sarah. God changed her name as He pronounced her blessed and said “…she shall be a mother of many nations.” When God changed the name of a person it was in recognition of and in anticipation of a change in “who” and “what” that person was to be.

Before God changed their names, each person filled their life with expectations that were not fulfilled and, perhaps more importantly, they did not see themselves as God saw them.

We each fill our hearts and minds with hopes, dreams and expectations, many of which are unrealistic and when our expectations are not fulfilled suddenly resentment, bitterness and anger appear in our life. Conversely, when our expectations are realized, we eventually come to the understanding that being at the “top” isn't what we thought it would be. Success does not bring permanent happiness and in search of happiness we move on to our next dream, idea or expectation that we believe will make us happy. But true happiness does not come from success or achievements. True happiness comes from being content and satisfied, a state of rest and peace.

Dr. Raj Raghunathan in an article for Psychology Today (on-line) wrote; “Why aren't the smart -and-successfulthose with a university degree and earning above $75,000 a year-as happy as they could be? The fact that a university degree and a good life do not necessarily translate into happiness is a well-known fact.

Sonja Lyubomirsky, in her excellent books, The How of Happiness and the Myths of Happiness, suggests that “life circumstances” (such as education levels, marital status, wealth, etc.) contribute only about 10% to one's happiness, with the rest coming from one's genetic make-up (about 50%) and one's values, attitudes and habits (about 40%).”

Neither you or I can do anything about our genetics, but much can be done with our “life-circumstances.” One can change one's “values, attitudes and habits” and the change that is needed, those values, attitudes and habits that will stay with a person, comes only through the One who created us, formed and made us, God.

Who you are, your identity, your soul, (defined as your mind, emotions, personality, ability to learn and where your feelings come from), has been defined by God. Who you really are can only be found in Christ Jesus.

God knew you before you were conceived, 'Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart…' (Jeremiah 1:5) God knitted you together, “For You formed my inward parts; You wove me in my mother's womb._ (Psalm 139:13) and “Thus says the LORD, your Redeemer, and the one who formed you from the womb, 'I, the LORD, am the maker of all things, Stretching out the heavens by Myself And spreading out the earth all alone.” (Isaiah 44:24) _ God designed you to be you.

Genetics does have a significant part in who you are; physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually and God did gave you the genetics He wanted you to have. People do not win the “genetics lottery” by being beautiful, tall, slim, blond, dark, rich or athletic. People are born exactly the way God masterfully designed them, exactly being what He designed and intended them to be. Each one of us are made in the image of God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit. (Genesis 1:26-28) Every person has a purpose, plan and future no matter how long they live, what they look like or their capabilities! God placed certain gifts, abilities, traits and gave you purpose long before you were born. Before you were born, He created certain works for you (and only you) to accomplish. (Ephesians 2:10) He knows exactly how long you will live, He has already set a day for your departure from this earth and to enter eternity, “And inasmuch as it is appointed for men to die once and after this comes judgment.” (Hebrews 9:27) You are not a mistake! You are a grand design, thoughtfully and especially made for His purposes and for His glory. You have been redeemed (purchased for a price), Jesus, “…gave Himself for us to redeem us from every lawless deed, and to purify for Himself a people for His own possession, zealous for good deeds._” (Titus2:14) Because you have been redeemed the Bible says, “But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for god’s own possession, so that you may proclaim the Excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light.” (1 Peter 2:9) Who Do You Think You Are Now? You can be changed by God the only question to be answered is, will you let God change what you are and who you are?

Clayton Adams is pastor at Earle First Assembly of God.

You can e- mail him at cpalaa@ yahoo. com, or find Earle First Assembly on Facebook.