Who Are You? Where Are You Headed?
This is the kind of question one might expect if they are walking alone in a quiet dark neighborhood in the wee hours of the morning. Those who become aware of your presence, not knowing who you are, unaware of the reason for your being there, and ignorant of your intentions in a situation such as this have every reason to be concerned. Of course, those who mean no harm, and have the right and a purpose to be there will give answer and the desired objective will possibly be reached.
As we consider our identity on earth, we need to ask ourselves the same question. However, we all have reason to be here. In Genesis, we read the account of creation, and how that after that, all who are on earth arrive in the same fashion – they are born. We also learn from Job 14:1, that we also have something else in common. That is the ‘trouble’ that life presents as we are here. Man that is born of a woman is of few days, and full of trouble.
Additionally, this passage clues us into the fact that we have limited time in this realm. Because we are born, we become part of humanity, and have the ‘right’ to be here. But where are you headed? That is the question that all should ask and all should seek the answer. In Gen. 3:19, after Adam and Eve sinned in the Garden of Eden, God said to Adam: “In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground; for out of it wast thou taken: for dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return.”
Is this it? Is that all there is? Are we simply like the “beast” as described in Eccl 3:20-21? Speaking of both, the Spirit had the penman write: “All go unto one place; all are of the dust, and all turn to dust again. 21 Who knoweth the spirit of man that goeth upward, and the spirit of the beast that goeth downward to the earth?” The last question in this passage shows there is a difference. Gen. 2:7 shows the difference when God breathed the breath of life into man “and man became a living soul.” That ‘living soul’ will exist forever somewhere. (Eccl 12:7; 1Thess 4:13-17; 2Thess 1:7-9)
Now, we know who we are. We are members of humanity. We also know that physically, we shall return to the elements once our sojourn on earth is complete. We also know, unlike the ‘beast’, this is not “the end”, for man is a living soul. This sets up yet another question, which was asked by the suffering servant in Job 14:14 in the midst of his earthly tribulation. Where will man go? What is to become of his soul? He asked it this way: “If a man die, shall he live again? all the days of my appointed time will I wait, till my change come.” He did not know “where he was headed”, but knew he had to wait to find out. It is obvious that he also knew that while he was waiting, he was to faithfully serve God.
This inquiry of Job so long ago was actually prophetically answered in the Garden of Eden by God Himself. This was after Adam and Eve succumbed to Satan’s temptation to eat of the forbidden fruit and sinned against God. Gen 3:15 is the foretelling of Christ’s coming and dying, and that He would conquer death. Christ told how this would be fulfilled in Matt 12:29 as He foretold of entering Satan’s house (death) and binding Satan. The ‘binding of Satan’s power’ over death answered the question of Job 14:14. And we know this from 1Cor 15:55 as Christ was victorious over death. O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory? Christ’s death and burial were all part of God’s plan, but this wasn’t the ‘end’ of the plan. Christ was resurrected to die no more. 1Cor 15:20 tells us this. But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept. Rev 1:18a also proves this. I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore,. Christ came forth from the grave so we could “choose” where we are headed for eternity ‘while’ we sojourn here on earth.
While we are members of humanity, we must ask ourselves the questions: Where am I headed? Where am I going after this life? What will happen to my soul after I pass from this realm? That, my friend is entirely up to you. Where you (your soul) is headed is a choice you WILL and MUST make. Each arrived physically here through procreation (God’s plan). We had no choice in the matter. Having been granted life, we have the God-given privilege of choice. The choice ‘now’ is whether or not to be ‘born spiritually’. Christ spoke of this in John 3:5 to Nicodemus. He said: “Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.”. Then in vs 7b, He said “Ye must be born again.”
Being born of water and of the Spirit is speaking of being baptized into Christ as Rom 6:3-5 shows. When one is ‘baptized into Christ’, they are baptized into His death. Those being ‘born again’ are to “walk in newness of life” while awaiting the resurrection. Christ made preparation for this as He told Thomas in John 14:6. “I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.”. Jesus had just told His apostles He was going to prepare a place for them. Those that become God’s children by spiritual birth, (baptism into Christ), and remain faithful until death have a destination and a crown of life awaiting them. (Rev 2:10b)
Why not determine your ‘new’ identity by being baptized into Christ and becoming a child of God today? Then keep your eyes on the ‘desired destination’ (heaven) while faithfully serving God in this life in accordance to His Word. So, who are you? Where are you headed? The plan is offered. You can know who you are and where you are going for eternity. The choice is yours. Make the right choice today while there is still time.
Dennis Strickland, Mooresville church of Christ
