Coming Home to Our True Identity by Charles Razzell

Even before he made the world, God loved us and chose us in Christ to be holy and without fault in his eyes Ephesians 1:4 (NLT)

Simon the Sorcerer’s Story We read in Acts 8:9 that Simon had practiced sorcery in the city for some time, and that he boasted that he was someone great. His inflated ego (and his sense of self-worth) was aided by the reaction of the people to his use of borrowed supernatural power: “all the people, both high and low, gave him their attention.” Simon, we see, was an attention junky. He believed he was someone great and got lots of positive reinforcement for that, even though all his “ability” was borrowed from the demonic realm. But then Philip enters the scene proclaiming the good news of the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ. Many were baptized, both men and women. Simon also believed and was baptized… and followed Philip everywhere, astonished by the great signs and miracles he saw. Even Simon, the epicenter of magical mischief, became a believer and was baptized! But, sadly, his main interest still seems to be a fascination with the supernatural, rather than relationship with Jesus. When Simon saw that the Spirit was given at the laying on of the apostles’ hands, he offered them money and said, “give me also this ability.”  He easily slipped back into “supernatural entrepreneur” mode, returning to his old way of thinking. I find it interesting that Simon is not recorded as receiving the gift of the Holy Spirit. Had his heart been in the right place I would have expected him be one of the first in the prayer line, but instead we read that he “saw”, i.e., he observed from some distance off.  He had been offered something far more valuable than a source of income, he had been offered sonship, an intimate connection with his Creator.   Saul/Paul’s Story We find Saul breathing out murderous threats against the Lord’s disciples. (Acts 9:1)  By his own account, he was fully committed to his ethnic and religious idendity: circumcised on the eighth day, of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, faultless in his obedience to the Law of Moses and zealous in his persecution of the church. As a pharisee, he had authority, respect and (misguided) purpose. God intervened dramatically in Saul’s life: as he neared Damascus on his journey, suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him. He fell to the ground and heard a voice say to him, “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?” (Acts 9:3). While Saul’s calling was sudden and dramatic, his response and discipleship took years to work out. We read in Galatians 1:15-18 that his immediate response was not to consult any human being; rather, he went into Arabia for a while before returning to Damascus. Only three years after that did he go up to Jerusalem to get acquainted with Peter. The implication is that Paul didn’t get his discipleship training from any human source, but spent time directly communing with God, being transformed by the renewing of his mind. Not only did his name change, but his whole value system, identity and purpose was re-formed in the Potter’s hands!  As Paul himself testifies: But whatever were gains to me I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. What is more, I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them garbage, that I may gain Christ, and be found in him… Notice the phrase “in Him,” meaning in Christ. The word “in” implies something deeper and more intimate than “with.” To be “in Christ” means to be organically united to Him, as a limb is in the body or a branch is in the tree. Jesus said, “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.” (John 15:5)   Our Invitation, Our Story Simon the Sorcerer wanted a piece of the action (“give me also this ability”) whereas Paul’s heart-cry was whole-hearted and relational, to “gain Christ and be found in Him.”  Paul was utterly changed from the inside out and, living from his true identity, became a true world-changer. In this season, let’s be sensitive to God’s invitation to true intimacy and sonship, spending time with Him, being transformed into His likeness and bearing much fruit. And if our busy lives are pressing on us, may we have the wisdom to choose what is better, and thereby receive something that will not be taken away from us (Luke 10:42).