“The true light that gives light to every man was coming into the world.” John 1:9
What is the identity of man? I have seen a lot of articles, memes and personal social media statuses lately defining the identity of man. With the current political, social and health climate, I have seen a lot of statements assigning names, labels and classifications of people based on characteristics they display; assigning identity to each subject. The Cambridge Dictionary defines identity as who a person is. So, I ask again, what is the identity of man [mankind]?
The identity of man is found in his creator, indicated by the very definition of creation. Only the creator can assign identification to the object He breathed into life. He says we are called, chosen, wonderful and loved. (See Matthew 9:13, 1 Peter 2:9, Psalm 139:14 & John 3:16-17.) Jesus came to us all; every man and woman, according to John 1:9. That is our identity, assigned by our creator.
The identity of man is not his political affiliation, his opinions on abortion or immigration, her sexual orientation, race or favorite past time. It is not her job or his status. The identity of man is not what he selected on his ballot or how she spends her holiday season. It is not in whether he wears a mask or if she refuses. It is not how she pronounces “pecan” or what team he wants to win this weekend. The identity of man is not where he comes from or where she is going. The identity of man is not his likes and dislikes, or her goals and aspirations. The identity of man is not her sin or his transgression.
The identity of man is not defined by the opinion of man. Jesus shows us this in John 2:24, when “many people” saw his miracles and began believing in His name. They were giving him credit and praise that was well deserved. Yet, the scripture says he did not entrust himself to men because he knew men. This means, he did not place himself under the authority or protection of man because he recognized what man is. That authority and protection can only be held by God. He defined His identity based on God’s words, not man’s.
The identity of man, assigned by the Creator of man, is called, chosen, wonderful and loved. No matter the man or woman, we are because He is. Period.
This can be hard to swallow sometimes. It is easy to imagine Jesus loving on and accepting the little children of the world, or the people who invest in others, and even the ones who display the seal of God (2 Cor. 1:21-22) proudly. But, according to scripture, He loves every man. The ones that hurt others, that abuse, the ones that lie and the ones that persecute as well. He loves us all.
In Matthew (22:37-40), Jesus spoke on the greatest commandment. He said, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: Love your neighbor as yourself. All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.” That is it: Love God, love each other. Everything else stems from that.
What if we really walked this out? What if we viewed man as God does, through a prism of love? What if when we saw an individual, every individual, we saw called, chosen, wonderful and loved? I wonder what kind of impact that would have.
My prayer today is to adopt this perspective for every person. I pray that God softens my heart for others when I cannot do so myself. I pray that I see man through the perspective of love. I pray to look at myself from the same perspective. Father, fixate my heart on You so that the love created in that transaction pours out into my relationships and encounters with others. Give me a perspective of love.
Morning Joy 