“Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own.” — 1 Corinthians 6:19
Whose You Are
Much of the cultural landscape promotes the notion that a person’s value is based upon what they do, how they perform, or their ability to produce. Whether it’s in business, education, athletics or even the church, worth is often measured by winning. While not diminishing the necessity of high achievement and the virtues of quality and excellence in these spheres of life, human beings were never meant to be defined by what they do. In fact, in a very Biblical sense, they also weren’t intended to be defined by who they are, but rather whose they are!
In Colossians 1:16, the Apostle Paul writes “…all things were created through Him and for Him.” All of creation was made for God. It’s as simple as that — every person is alive for the purpose of belonging to the Creator and King. Writing to the Church in Corinth, Paul wrote, “Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own” (1 Corinthians 6:19).
A crucial step in discovering your true identity and worth is awakening to the reality of whose you are. While fair-weather fans and die-hards alike may gauge your status by how many home runs you hit, your points per game, or how many touchdowns you score, Heaven assesses your importance based upon one single factor: You belong to God! You were made by Him, in His image and for His particular intentions.
Refuse to settle for the inferior opinions of pundits, talking heads or even the data that analytics generate. Resist the notion that, as an athlete, you are merely a product of your performance. Before anything else, you belong to the One who is, was and is to come! You are His! The object of His love. The masterpiece of His creation. The prized possession of His glorious Kingdom.
So the next time you look in the mirror and seek to discover your personal significance, remember that it is not determined by last night’s box score or whether you are trending on Twitter. For “the One who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world” (1 John 4:4).
— Christopher J. Romano – President, Vision Christian Bible College and Seminary
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