“Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. And all things are of God …” (2 Corinthians 5:17,18)
The world prides itself on the mantra of “being who one is.” But very often such is a charade. We really don’t like “who we are.” We wish we could be different. Real change is always out of our reach, and so “being who we are” is actually not a victory, but a concession to defeat. In weariness, we have thrown in the towel and embraced an identity we have struggled to shed. But this place of resignation which goes under the guise of celebration doesn’t necessarily make us any less miserable.
True joy comes with true change which is only possible in Christ. This change doesn’t come by being in a certain church or belief system; it comes by being incorporated into the very person of Jesus Christ. When we are in Him, and He is in us, we are radically equipped to change at the deepest level of our being. What we could not change about ourselves before, He can change as we abide in Him. His presence and power in us is our “hope of glory.”
Don’t be deceived in thinking the proud are happy, or those who have jettisoned the faith are now living the good life. No one trapped in sin can ever be happy, fulfilled, or at peace. The world would have such people think that Christianity is their tormentor when the Christ of true Christianity is their liberator.
You really don’t want to be who you are. You really need to be as He is. Embrace Christ. Embrace the possibility of change at the deepest level of your being. This is not about what you can do; it is about what Jesus can do in you. Don’t throw the towel in on Him.