 I had my wisdom teeth removed last week. The surgical crew took me to a room. They discussed the procedure. I gave my consent in the form of a pathetic signature. Then, I gave my consent again because the first signature was a straight line. I was slightly nervous. But before I knew it, I was sound asleep with anesthesia.
The surgery went well. I remember nothing. As I escaped anesthesia’s strong grasp, I pointed to the sky and mumbled words. That’s what they told me. I like to say I came out preaching.  The Israelites were in Babylonian captivity, and the prophet wrote, “Thus says the LORD, who makes a way in the sea, a path in the mighty waters, who brings forth chariot and horse, army and warrior; they lie down, they cannot rise, they are extinguished, quenched like a wick: ‘Remember not the former things, nor consider the things of old. Behold, I am doing a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert’” (Isa. 43:16-19 ESV).
Let me put this in my own words.  You can be as close to God as your heart desires. But a deep relationship with Jesus cannot come through another person. It’s a choice only you can make.
I’m learning the importance of allowing God to search my heart. David writes, “O LORD, you have searched me and known me!” (Ps. 139:1 ESV). I don’t know about you, but I want to be known by my Father. And I want to know Him more. My prayer is for you to desire a deeper, more intimate relationship with Jesus Christ. It’s the most important part of any person. Actually, it’s the purpose of life itself. The Westminster Shorter Catechism, a respected document in Christian theology, says, “Man’s chief end is to glorify God, and to enjoy him forever.”  It’s a Tuesday night. I’m writing to you from college. It’s finals week. I can’t begin to tell you how thankful I am to know this is about over. The past three and a half months have drained me emotionally. I don’t feel like writing this. Add it to my growing list of depressing columns.
I never imagined this would be my story. I always looked forward to college. It was my dream. I remember dreaming about how much better college would be than high school. A prominent Christian college in Ohio gave me $50,000. I accepted the offer. At face value, people probably thought I was content. What more could I have asked for?  I recently watched “The Greatest Showman” for a school assignment. If you’re unfamiliar with the movie, it’s a musical encouraging viewers to be themselves. One of the songs in the movie is called “This is me.” It strives to celebrate the differences between human beings. In other words, the song shouts, “Be yourself!”
Today, I’m writing about identity. But I’m doing so from a biblical perspective. In my home, there’s a quote on the wall. It reads, “In a world where you can be anything, be yourself.” It’s a cute cliché, but I forget it’s there. Actually, I forget the words. I don’t know about you, but I struggle to be comfortable in my own skin. |