Theological Commentary: Click Here
Discipleship Focus: Identity
- Identity: Our true identity comes from God. Only when our identity comes from God can we be obedient in ways that satisfy our person to our core.
In this
passage we can see at least three instances of identity coming into play. We see two negative examples of identity in
the woman and the beast. We see a
positive example of identity in the people unable to be won over by the beast.
Let’s
start with the woman. Her identity is in
the pursuits of the world: drunkenness, sexual immorality, lavishness in
lifestyle, persecution of the saints, and seduction of the world. These are the focus of her life. These are the things that give her
power. These are the things for which
God can judge her in righteousness.
Remember the Ten Commandments?
You shall have no other God except me.
Here this woman does not get her identity from the Father but through
her own pursuits. However, notice that
God is not fooled. Although she has
sought an identity apart from God, it is God who knows her true name written
upon her forehead.
The beast
is no different. What are the things
that provide identity to the beast?
Blasphemy. Violence. War with God.
One who leads people astray. This
is the identity of the beast. Instead of
gathering its identity from God and being satisfied, the beast finds its own
identity and ends up in a war against God.
Finally,
we have a brief hint of truth. Notice
who follows the beast? Those whose names
are not written in the book of life. In
other words, those whose names are written in the book of life – those who get
their identity from God – will be able to resist the lure of the beast. What is the way to freedom from the things of
this world and peace in your life? Get
your identity from the Father.
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