Imagine your life embodied in a single piece of paper. A blank page.
No identity, no inherent value, no established purpose, yet there is so much potential to be unlocked in a blank page. There are countless possibilities and creations to be discovered in that single piece of paper, and the principle carries over into your life.
Perhaps when we’re younger we have the potential of a blank page. We see it in the lives of children around us. Everything that happens in their lives has such weight and gets written on their pages, and most of us are still being written on today. All sorts of sources, including some of the brightest minds on the planet, are selling us answers that get written on our pages to three basic questions:
- Who am I?
- What am I worth (good for)?
- Why am I here?
These three questions address some of the most important areas of our lives, even if we haven’t consciously asked them: our identity, our value, and our purpose.
We all buy into a sort of “sales pitch” that promises to answer these questions. These can come from our family lives, or a tragedy that painted you as a victim. It can be success, or any number of other empty promises to fill your blank page. In a world where we are faced with information overload, the line doesn’t seem to end of people wanting to influence you to be who they want you to be and, therefore, do what they want you to do. This all leads to possibly the most important question we can ask ourselves: Who gets to write on your page?
One of the first stories we have of Jesus as an adult is when Jesus goes to John the Baptist to be baptized. This is crucial to the discussion and questions we’re trying to answer.
Matthew 3:16-17
16 As soon as Jesus was baptized, he went up out of the water. At that moment heaven was opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting on him.
17 And a voice from heaven said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.”
After his baptism, Jesus begins one of the toughest missions in history to become a sacrifice for humanity, and before it begins, God the Father stops for a moment. He pauses and makes sure to call out the answers to the questions people (including Jesus) ask themselves.
Who am I? You are MY Son.
What am I worth? I LOVE him.
Why am I here? I am WELL PLEASED.
Imagine that kind of clarity happening in your life. Imagine if, right before some of the best or worse times of your life, the roof and clouds opened up and a voice from heaven speaking, “You are my child. I love you. I am well pleased with you.” Right before you’re preparing to say vows and walk down the aisle, or as you hold your first child in your hands. When you’re on the way to the hospital, and you don’t know what’s going to happen. As you gather the courage to go on a date or have the tough conversation you need to have.
Our identity, worth, and purpose drive everything. They are our life motivators. Do you know who you are? What’s written on your page, and who is doing the writing?
This is what God believes about you:
- Who am I? I am God’s child.
- What am I worth? God loves me.
- Why am I here? I bring God pleasure.
See you Sunday!
