Editorial

Who are you?

Do you remember being in Year 10? Who were your mates? What memories flash before your eyes? How do you remember feeling? Around that time for me, I remember hot sunny days, Oakley Frogskin sunglasses and Nike Air Jordans (for those who could afford them!) and Coolio’s massive hit 'Gangster’s Paradise'. I still have my Year 10 uniform signed by my cohort (needs to be censored by the way – not everyone had tact on uniform signing day).

But something that significantly stands out in my memory from around that time, other than wanting to play cricket for Australia, was the jump in responsibility and independence. Driving the family car with my dad petrified next to me (mum helped there), working at the local pizza shop, contributing my finances to the family home and fast tracking VCE were just some examples. 

Year 10 students at MECS, and across Australia are experiencing this jump in responsibility too. Decisions need to be made and priorities arranged. But underneath the surface of these decisions and responsibilities lies crucial questions: How should I contribute? What do I want to do? Who do I want to be? Hang on a minute, who am I??

If we’re honest, those of us, let’s say a little over the age of 16 (or maybe a lot more) are still faced with that question, who am I? This is a question that feeds into our decision-making process, either consciously or unconsciously. 

So, question for you: Who are you?

Some of us may base our answer on a range of things, such as:

• Our family and upbringing
• Our cultural background
• Our job/career
• Money
• Possessions
• The morals and values we’ve been brought up with
• Our appearance, what we look like
• What others say about us
• A personality type
• How we see ourselves
• What we’re good at
• May even be what we’re passionate about

But are these things your true identity? And, does your identity change? I put to you today that your identity has been the same from the moment you were created. Your story is part of God’s amazing bigger story, the reign of His kingdom and inviting us in relationship with Him. As we realise this, our lives make so much more sense! And what a way to inform our decision making and fuel us as we carry out our responsibilities! 

You’re created by God

You’re loved by God

You are so precious, worth so much that He died for you

You’re not alone, He is with you

That is who you truly are.

You don’t have to strive for His love, He has already loved you… the cross is such a powerful demonstration of that. Even if you feel unworthy to come to Him, His arms are open wide to you, you can even bring your doubts and fears.

A fun project for you to finish: Grab a broomstick, take off the broomhead and try to balance it on your pointer finger while it’s upright. Try to look at your finger while you’re balancing it, then, shift your focus to look at the top of the broomstick, towards the sky. Which way’s easier? I’ve tried this and can certify that looking up is better…. so too is doing life: Looking up and realising who you really are in God’s eyes. This can align our decision making and actions with who we were created to be.

I also recommend a book that’s been formational for me: Who I am in Christ – Neil Anderson. Also, as David puts it…

Psalm 139:1-6

You have searched me, Lord, and you know me. 

You know when I sit and when I rise; you perceive my thoughts from afar. 

You discern my going out and my lying down; you are familiar with all my ways. 

Before a word is on my tongue you, Lord, know it completely. 

You hem me in behind and before, and you lay your hand upon me. 

Such knowledge is too wonderful for me, too lofty for me to attain.