As a new year starts, we often take time where inventory of our lives and make resolutions for the year ahead. We look at what we did or did not accomplish last year and make resolutions to drive our focus for this new year. As I myself have begun my own personal inventory, I saw something that has created alarm in me. If you have been around me at all, you probably have noticed it as well. I will tell you what it is in a minute . . .

I lived in Washington for over sixteen years, and during that time have met and got to know many people. One of those people was teaching a a men’s retreat I was attending.  He shared a personal story and that challenged me then and it is challenging me again today, not so much his story but the message it contained.

I want to apologize if I fail to accurately retell things precisely as Bob did, but I hope you get the sway of the message. Bob and his family had been going to the church awhile before we started and I am not really sure what he was doing professionally at the time we met, but over a little period, Bob transitioned his career.  Bob (at that time in his mid 30’s) attended the police academy and into the role of a Washington State Trooper. Bob began to notice after he became a trooper that people began to treat/talk to him differently, a lot around his role as a trooper. Bob was proud to be a trooper but one day realized that he was Trooper Bob. Somewhere along the way Bob, the seasoned believer and man of faith was now recognized at church as trooper Bob.

Strange how that happens, how our lives can take on an identity and somehow we assume that identity and soon that becomes us and without such we don’t have definition anymore. For me I noticed it probably a couple of months ago when I realized that some of my friends didn’t really call anymore, and then hearing myself as I met new people, I realized why; I had become Disillusioned  Dave: disillusioned with work, disillusioned as a dad, disillusioned in following Jesus well.  I found myself complaining and grumbling and never satisfied,  and that’s what people began to know me as.

If you have every been there, you know it is a rut. It is hard to break free when you latch onto one of those identities. Perhaps part of it is a midlife crisis but I have come to realize without real definition, my life has become defined by my circumstances and not by who I am. How did that happen?

A story from scripture that I think is related is in the book of John, chapter 5. There was this man, who had been an invalid for over 38 years. And he sat at this pool with all the other people who were lame, paralyzed and blind. Jesus walked up to him one day and said, “Do you want to be healed?” Surprisingly the man did not answer yes, but began to make excuses as to why he was not healed. I like how Jesus responded, he said “Get up!”. Imagine, living 38 years as an invalid and then a man walks up, one who you do not even know and says “Get Up” and all of the sudden you can walk! No more excuses, No more invalid, No more who you thought you were! Identity has been changed!

That’s what I want this year! To break free of the identity I have allowed to wrap me and walk in who I really am, A Follower of Jesus! I hope that is your prayer for your life as well. You are more than what you have allowed yourself to be defined as: Alcoholic, Cheater, Liar, Workaholic, Selfish, Sinner, the list could on on forever.  I challenge you to listen, is Jesus asking you today, DO YOU WANT TO BE HEALED?

I do!

Proverbs 22:1 A good name is more desirable than great riches; to be esteemed is better than silver or gold.