I just recently watched The Incredibles with my children. We love this movie. It never gets old. If you haven’t seen this movie, you should. It is about a family of Supers trying to get along in a world where they have to try to pretend to be something they are not (normal).
The Supers had all been forced underground after protesting which claimed Supers cause more destruction than good by stopping crime. However, just because they stopped protecting the people, did not mean the trouble stopped. And it drove Bob Parr (Mr. Incredible) crazy to sit by and watch. Bob’s wife, Helen (Elastic Girl), wanted to comply with the law and stay hidden. The two Supers have three children Violet (who can go invisible and make force fields), Dash (who is super-fast), and Jack-Jack (who at this point we assume has no powers). However, this “normal” life for Supers had them all struggling. Violet wanted to be hidden as she was always hiding behind her hair. Dash was always getting into trouble. Bob was obviously unhappy at his boring job. And Helen was simply trying to hold the family together.
Then in a series of events, Bob got fired, got called to do a “Super’s job,” lied to his wife, found himself in serious trouble, and the family came together to rescue him. (This is a really poor summary, because the movie is not the point of this post.)
There is a line from the movie that has really stuck with me. While on the island trying to find out what is going on and rescue Bob, Helen tells her son and daughter, “Put these on. Your identity is your most valuable possession. Protect it. And if anything goes wrong, use your powers,” as she hands them a mask.
YOUR IDENTITY IS YOUR MOST VALUABLE POSSESSION!
Once they embraced their identity as supers, they found purpose, strength, and unity as a family.
Christians- YOUR IDENTITY IN CHRIST IS YOUR MOST VALUABLE POSSESSION!
Your status… checking account… achievements… all of it, means nothing apart from Christ!
You were created with love and given value from that Creator. He said everything He made was good. You, too, my friend, are good!
But sin destroyed everything that was good. Now we struggle against our sin nature and see corruption in our world. But God is still good. You are still good!
Have you messed up? Yep. Me too.
But don’t let sin tell you who you are. Don’t let the weight of other people’s opinions define you. Look to the Cross! Jesus paid the price for your sins. His blood covers all your sins past, present, and future.
Is this an excuse to go on sinning? By No means! (Romans 6:1) This should motivate you to align your will with His! He paid the ransom and now you are His!
Embrace that identity in Christ! Free. Forgiven. New. Alive.
Once you embrace your identity in Christ, you will find your purpose, strength, and unity with fellow believers. Wave that banner of Christianity proudly! This banner does not claim you, but it shows who you belong to!
You belong to God.
You also belong to God’s family of believers! What an amazing gift! Brothers and sisters from all different walks of life who also wear that banner of Christianity. Unite and proudly share your hope!
The world is going to try to tell you who you should be or should not be. But falling into that trap will leave you empty. Your purpose comes from your designer. Don’t forget that! Open your Bible and see who God says you are… His workmanship! (Ephesians 2:10)
Wear that banner to remind yourself who you belong to and proudly share that with all who see the hope you have!
“Put these on. Your identity is your most valuable possession. Protect it. And if anything goes wrong, use your powers,” Helen/ Elastic Girl.
Put on that banner of Christianity. Your identity is your most valuable possession.
Protect it. Don’t let the world tell you who you are. Tell the world who you belong to! Read your Bible. Fellowship. Be in prayer. Grow in your identity.
And if anything goes wrong, use your powers. (Use prayer to activate your Armor of God- Ephesians 6:10-18.)
Here are some verse to call upon when you are protecting your identity:
Galatians 2:20 “I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.”
John 15:15-16 “No longer do I call you servants, for a servant does not understand what his master is doing. But I have called you friends, because everything I have learned from My Father I have made known to you. You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit–fruit that will last–and so that whatever you ask in my name the Father will give you.”
1 John 3:1 “See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him.”
Peter 2:9 “ But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.”