Written by: Emily Moeller
We live in a world that is facing an identity crisis. Many people are lost, not knowing where to find their identity. God created us to seek that which is eternal. Whenever we seek to satisfy ourselves with temporal things, we will come up empty. This emptiness leads us to desire the next thing in life that we think will bring us satisfaction. We are looking to the next stage of life, a friendship or relationship, social standing, employment success, etc. These things were never meant to satisfy the eternal longing.
Even though Christ lives in us, we seem to be lost, seeking the next great thing. We forget that in Christ we are complete. “For in him dwelleth all the fullness of the Godhead bodily. And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power” (Colossians 2:9-10). Nothing can be added to the completeness found in Jesus Christ. He is enough! No relationship can bring the satisfaction that Jesus Christ brings. We must find our identity in who Christ (Philippians 3:9-11) is and understand that when Christ is our life, we can have contentment in the completeness He brings.
If we are to find our identity in Christ, we must seek to know Him. Colossians 3:1-2 instructs us, “If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.” If we are to be complete in Christ, we must seek the eternal things, rather than the things that are temporarily satisfying. Why? The next verse reminds us, “For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God” (Colossians 3:3). We are to die to the flesh and the desires of this world, but then we can be hidden in Christ. Jobs come and go; they have good days and bad days. Relationships are with other humans and sinners, just as we are, and will never be perfect. There will be days when even the best people let us down. Each stage of life presents its own problems and shortcomings because these were not meant to satisfy us.
Colossians 3:4 begins with, “When Christ, who is our life.” This is just a short parenthesis that is added to this verse, but what a powerful four words: Who is our life! What a great reminder, Christ is our life! Yes, at the moment of salvation, the Spirit of God dwells in us, but this is even greater! We can seek eternal things in the place where we find our identity in Christ. We are no longer satisfied with the things of this earth, but we are “complete in Him” (Colossians 2:10). The book of Colossians contains so many verses that point us to who we are in Christ. After we find this completeness, it instructs us on how to walk. Rather than looking to the world, others, or ourselves to be complete, let us look to Christ, our Creator, who can satisfy that eternal longing. Take some time this week to read and pray through the book of Colossians.