A Misplaced Identity

1 min read

I found identity in my race

I found identity in my face

I found identity in my skin

I found identity in my capacity to win

I found identity in my culture

I found identity in my possessions and social structures

I found identity in my money 

I found identity in my body, mind, and ability to be funny

What a shock it was for me on that day when my soul bid my body farewell. When all of these identifying markers were left behind. I discovered that these things could not leave with me. My trophies, plaques, and other physical symbols of the accolades I had acquired over a lifetime could not leave with me. My skin could not leave with me.

Am I still black? Am I still white? Am I still rich? Am I still poor? 

Let me check.

*looks down at hands*

*checks pockets*

Am I still joyful?

Am I still sad?

Do I still have hatred stored in my heart?

Oh, it looks like my heart did make the trip. Not much in there, though. I was too busy filling up my life with temporal identities that would never even cross over with me. I was filling up my storage houses with things. Drawing the line between me and you, us and them.

Am I “us” or am I “them”? How can I tell?

Now what? Now I have left all of that time and effort behind. I am going to meet my Maker. Do I have a gift? What do I have to offer Him?

What a shock it was for me on that day when all those things that once meant so much melted away. I realized there was a huge debt that I forgot to pay. And then I remembered hearing that Jesus had made a way. 

But I was too focused on what the color of His skin was instead of Him.....

It was too little too late. 

Too big of a mistake.

He could have taken my place.

But I, instead, chose to author my own fate.

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For I know my Redeemer lives, and that he will stand on the last day upon the earth; And though after my skin has been destroyed, yet in my flesh I will see God.

Job 19:25-26