The Real Me: Finding a God-Given Identity Amidst Life's Circumstances

By Erica Hebble

Who am I?

I thought I had gotten past this question once I left my teens. But in actuality, I struggle with this question more as an adult than I ever did as a teenager.

In his first letter, Peter is very clear on who we are as Christians. The bigger issue is how we allow that identity to affect the way we live.

• Language: English
• Publisher: WestBow Press
• Release date: Feb 5, 2016
• ISBN: 9781512728088

Erica Hebble

Erica is a flip-flop-loving Texan living in the frozen tundra of Minnesota. She attended Ouachita Baptist University and Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary before giving up life in the South to take a job at Eagle Brook Church in the Twin Cities, where she currently works as a production manager.

Book preview

Chapter 1

IDENTITY

1 Peter 1:1

I love history. I know a lot of people do not. Just the thought of history conjures up horrible nightmares of old, dry teachers with glasses and monotone voices forcing you to memorize dates and names. However, I am a huge nerd, and when you combine that with the fact that I had some great history teachers who really made the past come to life---let's just say it's safe to assume I spent more time in the library than cheerleading.

Despite our experiences with history, it is still an important part of our study. It is by exploring the past that we understand the present and shape the future. History shows human behavior in action, and there is comfort in seeing how other people act in similar situations. So put your preconceived notions of history aside, and take a journey with me into the past.

It's roughly AD 64. Rome rules the world, and Nero is her emperor. Yet, in the quiet of a darkened room, at a rugged table, sits a man. They call him Peter. He has aged, and with that aging has come maturity. Oh, he is still brash and outspoken about his faith! But there is a softer side to him, a side that sees hurting and stops to help. A side that offers a word of encouragement and practical application. A side that recognizes the pain of betrayal and the overwhelming feeling of having been forgiven much. It is this Peter who writes to Christians, specifically, to Christians scattered throughout what is now known as modern-day Turkey.

Why were they scattered? I am so glad that you asked! The simple answer is this: due to persecution. But the more complex answer is where we really find out what is going on.

Shortly before this letter was written, the fires of Rome broke out. Now this wasn't just any ordinary fire. No, this was a major fire, like a calling-all-fire-departments kind of fire. This was a fire that burned for seven nights and destroyed over two-thirds of the city. Now, popular theory states that Nero set the fires himself and then played a fiddle while he watched the city burn; however, other historical evidence suggests that Nero wasn't even in the city when the fires broke out. Regardless of how the fires started, the fact remains that over two-thirds of the city was destroyed, including many of the city's temples and deific statues. Angered by the lack of help from their gods, the Romans turned to Nero for help.

Now, before we go any further in our story, we have to understand the religious system of the Roman Empire. Rome had a policy of integrating and assimilating the religions of those people that they had conquered into their state religion. They did this with the Greeks, the Phoenicians, the Etruscans, etc. Additionally, during his reign, Julius Caesar of "et tu Brute" fame, deified himself, taking the name Supreme Being under a new state religion, and all the emperors that followed held the same title. Because of this new state religion, all other religions outside this state religion, were considered illegal. Countless religions in Africa and the Middle East were demolished, with the exception of Judaism.

Judaism was the only organized religion, other than the state religion, legally allowed under Roman law. Many scholars believe the practice of Judaism was allowed mostly due to the fact that Judaism preached a message that said that the Messiah was yet to come. In fact, the idea of a Savior yet to come is a huge distinction not just for the Romans but also for the Jews. This is one of the reasons why the Pharisees were so against the idea that Jesus was the Messiah: to believe he was such would put Judaism in jeopardy of being another quashed religion of Rome. That title threatened the legality of their religion.

Now, just because Judaism was legal under Roman law did not mean that it was widely accepted or liked. In fact, in many instances, it was barely tolerated. Christianity up to this point was considered a legal religion because it was considered a sect of Judaism. The Romans tolerated it because they had killed the rebel Jesus, therefore crushing the idea of another king or Supreme Being. This is why the persecution of Christians came from the Jews rather than the Romans, in the years immediately following Jesus ascent. This is also one of the reasons the Pharisees followed Paul around on his journeys: the Jews didn't want Christianity lumped in with Judaism for fear they would lose their own legality since Christianity preached that the Messiah had already come. See the distinction?

So, back to the story. Rome has burned. In one corner, you have the Jews crying that Christianity is not a sect of Judaism and asking the Romans to do something about it. In the other corner, you have the Romans crying that something burned down their city and messed with their gods. And Nero, stuck in the middle and looking for a solution, decides to kill two birds with one stone and blames the Christians. After all, what could take out a god but another God? Thus began an intense and extreme persecution of the Christians.

And it was extreme. Christians were not only being arrested, but trials, when held, were a farce. Most weren't even given a trial. And the Romans were very creative in their interrogation and execution techniques. Many were taken into the Colosseum and told to fight lions without any means of defending themselves. Or they had to fight other much more skilled gladiators in what was typically a fight to the death. If they were injured, they certainly weren't bussed to the local hospital. Some were even dipped in tar and hot oil and set on fire as nightly illumination in place of torches and lamps.

These are the times in which Peter is writing, and it is interesting to me that instead of addressing the issue of suffering, Peter writes a letter reminding Christians of who they are in Christ and therefore how they should live.

Growing up, my dad would say time and time again, Erica, you can't always control your circumstances. But you can control how you react to and within those circumstances. I think that is kind of what Peter is writing about here. Peter is saying that you can't control what happens to you. But you can control how you react in those situations.

Terry Waite was an English humanitarian and author as well as the assistant to the Archbishop of Canterbury, Robert Runice. In 1987, he travelled to Lebanon to help secure the release of several hostages. However, the trip went awry, and instead of rescuing the hostages, he ended up being captured and held hostage himself for five years. After he was finally released, he made this statement: I have determined in captivity, and still am determined to convert this experience into something useful and good for other people. I think that's the way to approach suffering. It seems to me that Christianity doesn't in any way lessen suffering. What it does is enable you to take it, to face it, to work through it, and eventually to convert it.

Peter understands that lesson. He lived it. Look at his introduction: Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ. This is the same Peter who was a fisherman but left that profession to follow Jesus (Matt. 4:18---19). The same Peter who walked on water (Matt. 14:22---32). The same Peter who knew Jesus was the Son of God but in the next breath was called Satan (Matt. 16). The same Peter who denied Jesus three times (John 18).

However, Peter doesn't dwell on his highs and lows, and he has some pretty spectacular highs and lows. Rather, he finds his identity in who God has called him to be: an apostle of Jesus. There is authority in this statement, for Peter is secure in who God has said that he is.

Who has God called you to be?

I know in my own life, it is so easy to find my identity in everything but God. The things people say or think about me. The things that I have done or not done. The fears that permeate my life. The labels placed on me by society. And those outside factors so often overwhelm who God has said I am.

What would it look like to live secure in the knowledge of who God has called me to be? Would I let go of the fears that so easily trip me up? Would I have more confidence to open up and share my life, my faith?

Peter goes on to remind his audience that they too are chosen. What I love about this is that he doesn't just start his letter like this:

From: _____________

To: ________________

Subject: ___________

To him, this is not just a standard letter. How do we know this? Because there is significance in how he addresses the Christian community. He does not simply list where they are but calls them the elect. He reminds them who they are.

Labels are a funny thing. They can be given to us by ourselves or by others, but in the end, we still choose which labels we cling to and which we do not. A friend can give me the label of pretty and remind me of that label each and every day, but until I believe that I am pretty, the label will not stick nor affect my life.

Peter reminds us of who we are, but do we believe it? Or do we brush it off as another platitude?

He goes on to say that this identity is according to the foreknowledge of God the Father. What does this mean to us? God knows what we are going through. Life didn't catch him off guard! He isn't up in His heaven wringing His hands and wondering how He is going to fix things. Whatever you are going through is part of His plan.

And not just part of His plan, like some happy accident that works itself out, but His chosen plan. Chosen to go through this exile. Chosen to be scattered. Chosen to be forced out of their home, their lives, their comforts. Does it change your perspective of suffering to know that what you are going through is not a man-made reaction but a God-made orchestration? What we face in life is part of the growing process! It is through these struggles that we determine the labels that will stick and the labels that we will thrust aside.

My prayer for you is this: through it all, you will determine that the labels you choose for your life will be the labels that God has given you.

Chapter 2

GRATEFUL

1 Peter 1:2---12

Two and a half years ago, I moved from Texas to Minnesota. Talk about culture shock! It is amazing how much of a difference a thousand miles makes! The biggest change for me was the weather. The winters in Minnesota are astonishingly cold --I did not know temperatures could even get that low -- but the summers are actually amazing! This summer was extremely beautiful with mild temperatures. It was wonderful!

Except for one day. This particular day was brutal. The high was 92 degrees. The humidity was in full force. I am not sure how we survived. I remember texting my parents on this day, complaining about the heat -- the same parents who did not make the move to Minnesota, the same parents still living in Texas. My dad replied back, 92 sounds wonderful; it's 110 here and only noon! Suddenly, my day didn't seem quite so hot.

Perspective changes perceptions.

I am just going to state the obvious here: Peter starts his letter by praising God. Seem odd? It does to me. Usually, I do not start trying to comfort people by praising God. A few years ago, I taught a girl's Bible study, and, every week, someone from the group was crying about their problems. From job situations to home life to break ups to other life dramas, the number one thing they would all say after telling me their problem was this: Why me? To be honest, my answer to their question very rarely was, Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ!

However, I think Peter is giving perspective in this verse. Instead of complaining about what we are currently going through, he says to remember what God has done for us.

Struggles are a fact of life; they are going to happen. In his letter, James writes "when you face trials" not if you face trials. So why are we always so surprised when they happen---like somehow we should be exempt from difficulties because we are Christians?

The Israelites of Moses' time provide a great example of this concept. They prayed for deliverance from slavery for years, and God answered that prayer! He delivered them from slavery, freeing them from bondage in an action-packed adventure and allowing them to cross the Red Sea on dry land. But in practically the next breath, they started to complain. God provided for their needs, and again what did they do? They complained.

If only the Lord had killed us back in Egypt. There we sat around pots filled with meat and ate all the bread we wanted. But now you have brought us into this wilderness to starve us all to death. Exodus 16:3

This is quite a different sentiment from the people who were crying out for a deliverer to save them from slavery not too many chapters earlier. Did they really think they would leave Egypt, and everything would be unicorns and rainbows? But I do the same thing! I constantly act surprised when life catches me off guard or does not turn out the way I think it should! Why are we so surprised to find ourselves in the wilderness? And not just in the wilderness, but actually experiencing wilderness-like conditions?

It is so easy to look back on the Israelites of Moses' time and scoff. To think there is no way that I would act the same way. If it had been me living through that time period, I am confident that I would