Identity
Mark E. Haskins
May 21, 2025
Who are you? On a typical Thursday or summer Saturday, what’s your answer? Many of us tend to think of ourselves and our lives in terms centered on the roles we occupy. For example, I am (or have been) a father, son, professor, husband, neighbor, business partner, colleague, brother, employee, nephew, author, collaborator, friend, chairman, board member, citizen, community volunteer, baseball catcher, advisor, tourist, novice, expert, grandpa, carpenter, medical patient, spectator, and on and on. I bet you have a similarly long list. Such an accumulation of roles stand like fence posts, piercing the open prairie, often acquiring a prominence in our thoughts that preempts a ready awareness of how our Heavenly Father would answer that question for us.
Some of our roles come naturally, others we seek, others are thrust upon us. The truth is, many of us have planted as many fence posts into the landscape of our lives as possible to sample as much of life as possible. We’ve done that in the spirit of, “I always wanted to try _____” (fill in the blank), or “That role looked interesting.” Or, let’s be honest, we have done so sometimes to avoid confronting what/who we aren’t. True? But wait. We must periodically remind ourselves that we are more than what we do or the role(s) we occupy.1
Buckle up. Foremost, and almost unbelievably, we are:
- God’s beloved (Colossians 3: 12; John 17: 22-26),
- God’s sons and daughters (II Corinthians 6: 18; Galatians 4: 6; I John 3: 1-2),
- God’s heirs (Romans 8: 17; Titus 3: 7),
- A display of God’s workmanship (Ephesians 2: 10),
- God’s co-workers (I Corinthians 3: 9),
- Ambassadors for Christ (II Corinthians 5: 20), and
- A source of joy for Jesus as He neared the cross (Hebrews 12: 2) and the joy He now has.
Moreover, we can see in retrospect that our lives have been lavishly punctuated by God’s:
- pursuit (Luke 15: 1-10 and 19: 10),
- drawing us near (John 6: 44),
- guidance (John 10: 3-4 and 16: 13),
- bounty (Romans 10:12 and 5: 17; John 3: 34), and
- instruction (John 14: 26).
We must pause a moment to take all this in, meditating on each specific point. I confess to having engaged in this world’s fence post folly—not fully embracing who He has said I am, instead, selecting which of my earthly roles to wear depending on my situation or agenda. You, too? In doing so, I (we) come close to crafting an “identity tied to my ability to change my identity.”2 Jesus does not mince words, however: “Grow up. You’re kingdom subjects. Now live like it. Live out your God-created identity. Live generously and graciously toward others, the way God lives toward you” (Matthew 5: 48 MSG).
It is interesting to note that fence posts, by themselves, don’t accomplish much—they merely dot the landscape. Fence posts need connections (i.e., rails) to serve any purpose. Many of us, especially busy, task-oriented men and women, are not always adept at appreciating or building the connections to people and to Him (see April 2025 blog) within and between our daily fence post roles. Our busyness with the numerous tasks associated with our numerous roles often distract us (sometimes intentionally) from enjoying and deepening the connections we do have with others and the one that is most true—the one with Him. Like the I Love Lucy characters in the famous candy-wrapping scene (see video3), we can be overwhelmed with the To Do’s of our roles and as a result, live life in a frenzy, and frankly, living in the seemingly safe, calm shallows.
How do we live with an earthly identity, born of the roles we have, connected to the kingdom identity He has lavished on us? Like when we attend a professional conference or a community meeting, maybe we should start wearing informative name tags.
Possible name tag content for a professional conference:
-John Smith-
Known and loved by God every day and grateful to be a project manager at ABC Works, Inc.
Possible name tag content for a community July 4th party:
-John Smith-
Known and loved by God every day and blessed to be Sara's husband.
Possible name tag content for a large family reunion:
-John Smith-
Known and loved by God every day and joyful to have 2 kids and 8 grandchildren.
These are emblematic of who we are. They depict the facts of our two identities. They proclaim the one constantly true identity of who we are: known and loved by God every day. If we were to wear such name tags, they would either be conversation starters or conversation killers. The reality is that we are probably not going to wear such nametags and that is ok. The point is that the merging of our dual identities needs to be foremost in our daily awareness. When it is, we will see our roles and others with the eyes of our heart (Ephesians 1: 18). We will see others as He sees them—dear ones, too. We will see situations for the possibilities they present for connecting to others and for knowing Him better. So first we can pray:
Dear Lord, slow us down. Help us hit ‘pause’ and bring into focus the fence posts of our lives so that we might better understand their unique and potentially rich connections to You and others. We confess to often settling for the obvious of where we find ourselves, not appreciating or even seeing the amazing opportunities for connecting with You and with those who cross our path. Help us to see the landscape of our lives with kingdom eyes. Help us to more deeply and consciously embrace who You say we each are. Help us to bring that identity to the roles we have and the people we encounter. And may all that we come to understand about our lives be in the context of knowing we live in the midst of the greatest love story ever. You are the author of that story. We are not merely spectators to that story but we are each a treasured protagonist in it. Thank you, Lord.
One last prayer comes to heart. Several years ago, a dear family vacationed with us at a North Carolina lake. Their early-teens children wanted to learn to water ski. One afternoon, after an hour or two of trials and tumbles, the kids were confidently skiing behind the boat, across the wake, and in ever-accelerating, wider turns A few days later, in their son’s farewell to us was the joyful statement, “This was the best vacation ever!” Our final prayer might be:
Dear Lord, as we begin to see more clearly and confidently the connections our fence post roles have to You and to others, we know how close and caring You have been. We pray that our identity in You is always foremost in our reality through the trials, tumbles, joy, and peace that come our way. And may we always joyfully say, this side of heaven, “This was the best life ever because of You and the people and purpose You provided.” Amen.
1 Gary Barkalow’s book, It’s Your Call (David C. Cook, Colorado Springs, CO, 2010), is excellent on this point.
2 Mark Greaney (2017), Gunmetal Gray (Berkley, NY, NY), p. 528.
3 It may be that anyone younger than 60 is not familiar with this classic comedy sketch. For a bit of old-school, simple enjoyment, three minutes with this scene may bring a smile to your face (Lucy candy scene) accessed 5/21/25.
NOTE: MSG (The Message) Scripture taken from THE MESSAGE, Copyright © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002. Used by permission of NavPress Publishing Group.
