Remember the children’s tale of The Ugly Duckling? The key point was about a swan who thought he was a duck. He didn’t know any swans – just ducks. Didn’t know he was a swan. He lived with the ducks, played with ducks, ate with the ducks. He acted like a duck – as much as a swan is able. For even a young swan is definitely not a duck and cannot properly fulfill the role of a duck. Mama duck knew this boy wasn’t right, but nobody else seemed to notice. One day, the swan blossomed out into his mature beauty. It was clear to everyone now that he wasn’t a duck. But until the “ugly duckling” saw other swans and saw that they looked like his own reflection in the pond, he had no idea what or who he was. It was only after he knew what he was that the “ugly duckling” began to act like the swan he had been all along.
Too many times, a man comes to Christ but continues to behave like his old, dead self. He keeps the same habits, hangs out with the same friends, has the same vocabulary. Nobody who knows him has any idea that he is a “new creation in Christ” (1 Corinthians 5:17), except his Father. Sometimes, when such a man spends time with other men who know who they are, who stay in touch with their Father, he will get a glimpse of who he is supposed to be and start flying right.
This is why it’s so important for men to get connected with brothers in Christ on an intimate basis. Casual contact won’t reveal the conflicts and struggles you are facing. Pride keeps a man isolated. Fear of ridicule, shame, thoughts that nobody will understand or accept him. Too much self-esteem. Each of us must be part of a small team of believers; a team that will help keep us on the right trail, working the right game plan for our life. Without such a team, who will pick us up when we fall? Who will encourage us when we succeed? Who will comfort us when our world crumbles? Who will pray for us?
Football teams are made up of many different kinds of guys. Tall, short, lean, fat, fast, slow, black, white. They have different religions, politics, family structures, and hobbies. But when game time comes, they all put on matching uniforms and they all fight together against a common foe. Any and all differences that may loom large on the street become small and insignificant when they put on that uniform to play the game. The uniform does more than give the team a sense of identity – it lets the fans know which team is which. Can you imagine how confusing it would be to watch a football game where both teams wore the same uniform? The quarterback wouldn’t be able to tell which receiver was his. The spotters couldn’t tell the coaches who was in what coverage. The coach would not be able to confidently communicate the plays to the huddle. Confusion would be the watchword.
It’s important for Christians to be clothed in the righteousness of Christ. Without it, we won’t have a proper sense of identity and we won’t have clear communication with our Father. Without it, lost folks won’t be able to see that you have something they’re dying to have. Without it, you will get confused about which team you are on and start playing for the other team without realizing it – because all those players are wearing the same filthy rags of self-righteousness as you are.
So your life – how you live, how you see yourself, how others see you, how the Father talks with you; everything that defines you – depends on your identity and on you having a clear understanding of that identity.
If you are confused about why you do what you do with whom you do it – make sure you know whose you are. If you are in Christ, but living in the enemy’s camp, change out of the filthy rags you’re wearing and step into the wardrobe of His righteousness. If your family doesn’t know what team you’re on, if your co-workers think you’re lost like them, if you have no power for righteous living in your life – GO PUBLIC! Jesus said He would not acknowledge anyone to His Father who was ashamed of Him. If you want the intercession of Christ in your life – GO PUBLIC! Once you publicly identify yourself with Christ, He takes over and He is all you need for righteous living.
It’s important for you and me to know who we are. It’s important for you and me to know whose we are. For the master we serve – deliberately or on “auto-pilot” – that master will rule our lives. Make sure your trust is in Christ. Make sure you carry His brand. Make sure people don’t get you confused with the other team. Make sure you aren’t called “the Ugly Duckling”. Seek ye first the righteousness of Christ and everything else will fall in line. According to His will and His plan, not yours and mine.
That spells freedom. After being trapped for many years by the wrong team, learn to walk in the freedom that comes of being in Christ and knowing it.
Free at Last – Experiencing True Freedom Through Your Identity in Christ.
(borrowed much from Tony Evans’ book “Free at Last”)