Knowing Our Identity in Christ

Who Am I? Why Am I Here? We cannot know who we are until we understand who He is. Our identity in Christ reveals our purpose and mission in life.

When we peer into the vastness of eternity, we are faced with questions that echo through every soul: Who am I? Why am I here? These aren’t fleeting thoughts—they strike at the very core of our existence.

Scripture tells us that God chose us before the foundation of the world. Each of us is a divine miracle, handcrafted with purpose. The odds of our existence are so vast they defy human comprehension, yet here we are—alive, breathing, and entrusted with unique gifts and talents, shaped to reflect the Word of God, the very expression of His Logos.

Our lives are not accidents; they’re intricately woven into His eternal plan.

During a spiritual awakening in the 1970s, I witnessed the struggles of three prodigal sons. Each one wrestled with doubt, torn between the truth they had known and the pull of the world. One summer evening, I sat silently beside a campfire, watching the flames dance and listening to one of them speak—his voice laced with pain and self-condemnation. He had once experienced God’s love, glimpsed eternal vision, yet he felt utterly lost. Watch the episode here.

Even in my wayward state, I felt God’s reassuring hand. The prodigal was not abandoned. Neither was I.

In that quiet moment, God reminded me how He had filled the fatherless void in my own life. Many still wrestle with their worth, especially those who grew up without a father’s steady hand. But God invites us to trust Him with childlike faith—for He is a Father to the fatherless and a Defender of the vulnerable.

Years earlier, in Caesarea, the air was thick with speculation. Jesus asked His disciples, “Who do people say I am?” They replied with ancient echoes: “John the Baptist,” “Elijah,” “Jeremiah.” Each response was tethered to past prophecies and long-held hopes.

Then Jesus asked, “But who do you say I am?”

Simon the fisherman answered with boldness: “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”

It was more than a confession—it was a revelation. Jesus responded, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah. This was not revealed by flesh and blood, but by My Father in heaven.” In that moment, Simon received a new identity. Jesus renamed him Peter—a rock—and declared that upon this rock, He would build His Church.

In Scripture, names reflect purpose and destiny. Abram became Abraham, father of many nations. Jacob became Israel, the one who wrestled with God. And Simon became Peter, a foundational pillar for God’s Kingdom. When we receive the revelation of who Christ truly is, we discover who we are.

Later, on the island of Patmos, John heard Jesus speak to the church in Philadelphia: “I have placed before you an open door that no one can shut. You have little strength, yet you have kept My word and have not denied My name.”

The name of Jesus—Yeshua, “The Lord is salvation”—carries all authority. It is the name that calms storms, casts out fear, and breaks chains. It’s the name by which we overcome.

At Gethsemane, when the soldiers came to arrest Him, Jesus asked, “Who are you looking for?”

They answered, “Jesus of Nazareth.”

“I am He,” Jesus replied—and they fell to the ground.

His words echoed the authority of God’s name revealed to Moses: “I AM THAT I AM.” The uncaused cause. The One who makes all things exist. His name still carries that power.

In these last days, the Great I AM is revealing the true identity of His people. The wheat and the tares grow together, but the harvest will bring clarity. For what is sown in secret will be revealed in the light. Creation waits with eager longing for the manifestation of the sons of God.

The night before I surrendered my life to Christ, I poured out my heart in handwritten letters to one of the prodigals, unsure of what to do. I stumbled upon the book of Job and thought, “Another miserable Christian.” Exhausted, I fell into a restless sleep.

But the next morning, everything changed.

There was a knock at the door. One of the prodigal sons stood there—restored in faith—with his bride. They led me to Jesus and spoke of the cost of following Him. They reminded me of the words of Christ: “Behold, I stand at the door and knock…”

That day marked the beginning of a journey.

Discipleship means leaving behind what was and embracing what could be. Paul said, “Be transformed by the renewing of your mind.” Our past no longer defines us. We are refined for the future Jesus is preparing.

You’ve already beaten the odds—one in 400 quadrillion.

So the question isn’t if your life has meaning.

Will you live as it does?

God creates nothing without purpose. He etched His vision into your heart. Your calling won’t unfold by accident. It will unfold as you lay your gifts at His feet.

Your destiny is waiting.

Will you trust Him?

Will you answer His call?

Watch my Live and Grow on Purpose series, “Answer the Call.”