The term “identity theft (fraud)” is the deliberate assumption of another person’s identity, usually to gain access to that person’s finances or to frame a person for a crime.
The term “mistaken identity” is falsely believing that someone is someone else.
Both of these terms underscore the importance of our identity, especially from a financial or legal standpoint. I recently heard of someone that had experienced identity theft. The average cost of identity theft is over $1,000 per incident, and according to AARP, it cost Americans over $43 billion in 2023!
A far greater cost occurs when we do not realize who we actually are; that is, what we ‘think’ defines us is not the reality of who we actually are according to God and His Word. For example, those that have swallowed the lie of evolution believe that they have just evolved from another life form and have no intrinsic value in themselves. They came from random processes over billions of years. God says that we are made in the image of God (Gen. 1:27), that we are fearfully and wonderfully made (Ps. 139:14), and that we are loved by God to the extent that He sent His one and only Son, Jesus Christ, to die for our sins. Wow! Yes, we have great value. Satan desires to steal our true identity and convince us that we are defined by his terms. He wants us to have a mistaken identity. He wants to steal, kill, and destroy. Conversely, Jesus came that we might have life, and have it more abundantly! (John 10:10)
We see this ‘identity crisis’ played out in a huge variety of ways. We can define ourselves by our financial status, our athletic and/or mental abilities, our looks (beautiful, handsome, buff, etc.), our popularity, our relationships, etc. You get the point. I have heard of many an outstanding-athlete that had a major injury that ended his or her sports career and thus, was totally devastated. It is amazing how many wealthy people took their lives in the great depression of 1929 because they had defined themselves by their riches.
Even after we have accepted Christ, we can still get confused about who we really are. Yes, the devil is the accuser of the brethren and we can begin believing him. We can define ourselves by the sins that have not been totally eradicated from our lives instead of by who God says we are. Do you ever define yourself as lazy, messy, impatient, irresponsible, etc.? I find myself giving into those descriptions at times.
But when we come to Christ and turn from our sin to the Savior, He calls us a saint, chosen, loved, adopted, forgiven, accepted in the Beloved, justified, redeemed, His own possession, His friend, and as having an amazing inheritance, to just begin the list. As we read God’s Word, let’s note who God says we are and not believe the accusations of the deceiver. As we look to Jesus, not to our besetting sins, we become more like Him by His power alone.
“Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. For consider Him who endured such hostility from sinners against Himself, lest you become weary and discouraged in your souls.” Heb. 12:1-3
“But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord.” II Cor. 3:18
Here is how the girl who accepted the Lord in the movie “Overcomer” defined herself after she accepted Christ and studied Ephesians 1:1-14. Search “overcomer identity in Christ” and you will find a power clip on our identity in Christ. Let’s walk in our true identity!