This Is A Great Question

John 1:19-20 - This is the testimony of John, when the Jews sent to him priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, "Who are you?" 20 And he confessed and did not deny, but confessed, "I am not the Christ."  NASU 
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• John The Baptist's Answer 

One great question we should ask ourselves from time to time is this. Who are you? It is a question that really does matter.
 
If you remember the story John's mom was barren for a long time. Zacharias was in the temple when an angel came to him and informed him that he and Elizabeth were going to have a son and they were to name him, John.
 
The angel had this to say about who John was going to be in Luke 1:14-15 - "You will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth. 15 "For he will be great in the sight of the Lord; … and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit…"
 
How many times do you believe John heard about the angel's visit to his dad in the temple? How many times do you think John would have heard "he will be great in the sight of the Lord and that he was going to be filled with the Holy Spirit"?
 
John believed what his parents taught him.

All you have to do is read about him in the gospels and you can see he wasn't afraid to preach the truth. He preached to kings, priests, Levites and the common people. He let them all know they needed to repent for the Kingdom of God was at hand.
 
He was living out what his parents taught him about himself. 

• We Live Out What We Believe 

The wisdom literature has a nugget of gold in the book of Proverbs 23:7 - For as he thinks within himself, so he is.
 
Over 3,000 years ago Solomon informed us that our thinking controls our actions. I wonder how many parents, teachers or coaches ruined the children they were in contact with on a daily basis because they filled their heads with untruths?
 
We probably have all heard we weren't good enough, or smart enough or talented enough to achieve our goals. Some people listened and they didn't achieve what was possible because they simply didn't try. They believed the lies that were taught to them. 

• Old Testament Example 

You might recall the story of Moses sending out 12 spies to see if they could conquer the land of Canaan. You can read the full account in Numbers 13. I want to submit to you an abbreviated portion of the events.
 
Num. 13:30-33 - Then Caleb quieted the people before Moses and said, "We should by all means go up and take possession of it, for we will surely overcome it." 31 But the men who had gone up with him said, "We are not able to go up against the people, for they are too strong for us." … and we became like grasshoppers in our own sight, and so we were in their sight."
 
There were two men Joshua and Caleb they came back with a good report that the Israelites could conquer Canaan because they knew God was going to help them.
 
However, the other 10 spies said no it is impossible for us to conquer them because they were much stronger. They even go so far to say that they viewed themselves "as grasshoppers" in their minds.
 
Their thinking was polluted with lies and doubts. They had no faith that God was going to help them. They only looked at their own strength as their source of power.
 
If you don't know what happened I will tell you the Israelites had to wander in the wilderness for 40 years because of the 10 Israelites who were paralyzed with "stinking thinking". 

• The Real Question 

Yes, the real question that needs to be asked today and answered is "Who Are You"?
 
Seriously, "Who Are You"?
 
What do you have to say about yourself?
 
Where did this information come from?  Was the person someone who loved you, wanted the best for you or were they negative, had issues themselves and you were the one they dumped their garbage on constantly?
 
If you really want to know who you are then you need to read God's Word and discover what God has to say about you.
 
Do you know you were created in the image of God?
 
Do you know if you have faith in Jesus Christ you have been justified and have peace with God? Do you know that while we were sinners God demonstrated His Love for us by sending Jesus Christ, who died on the cross to atone for our sins?
 
I could keep going on and on about what God has done for us, but it is much better if you just read His Word and find out for yourself.
 
So let me ask you an all important question: Who Are You?
 
Think About These:
 
Put your trust in God, not man.
 
Heavenly Father, into Your hands I place my troubles, into Your Wisdom I place my goals, and into Your Love I place my life.
 
What is important is God knows who we are.

Stay Pumped,
 
Gary A. Serago

Minister of God's Word