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In a recent film, one of the characters was musing
on super heroes and their alter egos - their other identities. Spiderman,
for example, is Peter Parker, and Superman is Clark Kent. But there
is a major difference between them.
Peter Parker was an ordinary guy until he was bitten by a radioactive
spider and acquired some of its powers. He became Spiderman - but his
true identity is really Peter Parker.
Superman, however, was born Superman on the planet Krypton. All his
powers are natural to him. Clark Kent is the identity he assumes so
he can mingle with ordinary human beings. His true identity is really
Superman.
And what about the rest of us? Here we are, ordinary human beings, flawed
and struggling. Sometimes we rise above ourselves and can do great things.
There are countless stories of people who have dedicated their lives
to alleviating suffering or caring for others. There are superb teachers
and doctors who deserve our praise and thanks. But no matter what great
things they do, their true identity is human beings, and they can never
be anything else.
When we give our lives to Jesus Christ, something amazing happens. The
Bible tells us that we are a new creation - the old has gone, the new
has come (2 Cor.5: 17). So what happens to our old self? Are we like
Spiderman in that we are still Peter Parker but now we have special
powers to do things that ordinary human beings cannot do? Some might
think so. But God is not in the business of patching up or refurbishing
our old lives. We are born again. And what are we born as?
"To all who believed in his
name he gave the right to become children of God." (John 1: 12).
Our very nature changes. We once were in Adam, that is identified with
Adam. Now we are in Christ, that is identified with Christ. We are now
new creatures, sons of God. We are like Superman, who dresses as Clark
Kent to mix with ordinary people, but is extraordinary in reality. We
may still look like ordinary people, but we are not. What a shame that
so many of us don't quite believe it and carry on living like before,
carry on expecting things to be like before, but maybe with an extra
bit of help.
Do you know your real identity? Do you live every day knowing you are
a son of God and that he has given you everything you need for life
and godliness (2 Peter 1:3)? Would it make a difference if you did?
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