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Don't Be New...Just Be You (cont'd) (Part 1-3)

Most of us today are under pressure to become something other than who we were created to be. As adults we think it’s foolish for a teen to give up their identity for the identity of another. But almost daily we as adults buckle under pressure to conform to the world and it’s standard. For example, how many of us have purchased something, not because we couldn’t live without it, but because it’s what everybody else is doing? Most have made this a way of life, buying items thinking it will help us to be accepted and bring us self-worth. However the only thing it does is temporarily put off you discovering your true identity, and you rack up some serious debt in the process.

Most of us go to church in an automobile, some in a new vehicle, some in a not so new vehicle. All of us live somewhere, some in a house, some in apartments, some in mobile homes; some still live with their parents. We all buy clothes, some shop at Wal-mart, some shop at TJ Max, others shop at high-end retail stores. But if you were to take away the cars, homes, and designer clothes, what would you have? You have individuals that have emotions, feelings, and unique characteristics. Some are tall, some are short, some have brown hair, some have black hair, some have no hair, but that’s ok because we are different. We need to stop struggling over our differences, and began celebrating each other as the individual that God created us to be.

As Christians we make up the body of Christ. That means we are different. We each have a specific task to perform. If our hand thought that the ear was cool and decided it would no longer be a hand but an ear would that work…of course not. No matter how hard the hand tried it would never be an ear. The hand could hang an earring off its thumb; hold itself in the shape of an ear but it would still be a hand. It takes us being who we are and doing our part to accomplish His will for the body of Christ. 1 Corinthians 12:4&5 says, “There are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. There are differences of ministries, but the same Spirit.” By not being who God created you to be, the body of Christ suffers. We need you to be you.

There is a saying, “You were born an original, don’t die a copy.” Just as there are no two-snow flakes alike, no two humans are alike. God created each of us with unique characteristic, looks, and talents. What happens when we began to look at someone else’s life and desire to be like them is we fall short of reaching our highest potential. We don’t do ourselves any favors when we try to be like others.

Some people have been oppressed by parents and made fun of by peers. Thus they think there life is worthless and look for an out by copying someone else, and wishing to have another’s life. Neither your past nor your present is an indicator of what you can do, or where you can go. Inside each of us is a treasure chest, filled with gifts and talents, waiting to be uncovered and put to use. I believe that there are more talents in us than we think, and they are only discovered as we use the gifts that are noticeable.

The pressure to conform to others standards is not a new problem; it has been here since the Garden of Eden. In Genesis 3 the serpent told Eve, “For God knows that in the day you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God...” Eve fell for the temptation, hoping to become something she was not created to be. She and Adam were eventually cast out of The Garden and lost their place with God. I’m sure as they stood looking at the Angel of God the thought crossed there minds, “The grass isn’t greener on the other side.” They also found out that they could never be like God, something there were not meant to be. Just as they lost, we lose when we attempt to become something were not.

Don’t be fooled into believing that your life is less valuable because you don’t have a college degree, or you don’t drive a certain car, or live in a upscale neighborhood. If you put your trust in God, work hard, walk upright before the Lord He will do amazing things in your life. But you have to be true to who you were created to be. Here is an example... Michelle is the CEO of a hospital in Texas, and most everyone under her has a masters’ degrees in hospital administration or in business, there are doctors, CPA’s and all of them are older that her. However here is this girl from NC with her two-year degree in nursing running the whole show. One of the main reasons is because she is herself, what you see is what you get. She doesn’t try to please everyone or conform to their standard. She is true to herself, and because she is, God has promoted her and rewarded her. Just like Michelle if you will be true to yourself God will take you places you’ve never gone, and open doors that otherwise would be impossible to open.

David was asked one day by his father to take some supplies to his brothers who were fighting against the Philistines. As David arrived at camp he discovered that this Philistine giant had been taunting the Israelites, and cursing their God for many days. All the men of Israel were afraid. This made David extremely mad. Through a set of circumstances King Saul hears that David is not afraid of the giant. So David is called before the king. King Saul puts his armor on David and straps a sword to his side. Now David tries to walk and realizes he can’t fight in this armor. Saul was trying to dress David according to the standard of a typical warrior. David recognized that he didn’t need to conform to the image of a traditional warrior. All he needed to do was be himself. And we all know that David defeated the giant with nothing more that a sling and a stone. He didn’t need someone else’s ways, ideals or standards to win.

One of the greatest contributors to the “why be you, when you can be new” ideal in today’s society is the media. We are bombarded with this ideal everyday, from billboards to TV, to magazines, to radio commercials. It’s no wonder so many people have to deal with low self esteem when they are constantly being told if you don’t look like this or have that then your a nobody. And what’s sad is probably most of us here have made others feel like they’re not as good as we are because we know this influential person, or we have the latest toy, or whatever. The truth of the matter is by God’s grace we are where we are. The media plays a huge part of impacting the minds of people. If you are constantly being told or shown what an individual is suppose to looks like and what they have then your ability to function as yourself is impaired and the true you is concealed.

What make’s an orchestra so unique is the distinct sounds of the many different musical instruments performing together. If everyone played a violin or a trumpet or a French horn then it wouldn’t be an orchestra. It takes all the various instruments and there different sounds put together to make an orchestra.

If you are constantly around people who don’t celebrate or appreciate your uniqueness then maybe you need to look for other peers to hang out with. Life is to short to be put down, belittled and berated all the time. You are God’s child; He gave His Son for you to be able to live as He created you. No one should live under the slavery of others expectations. There is only one person you have to please and that is God. If you are pleasing Him then you can be proud of who you are, and know that you are fulfilling your destiny. You were created for His pleasure.

Do you know how God feels about you? Do you know that nothing can separate you from the love of God, neither death nor life, angles or principalities, things present or things to come, height nor dept, nothing Romans 8 say’s? Jeremiah 29:11 say’s, “For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace not evil, to give you a future and a hope.”

It is more likely that your calling will be discovered, more in your differences from others, than in your similarities. You don’t have to bow to the demands of the crowed and be pressured into its mold. There is nothing wrong with standing out and being different. If you look in Scripture most of the testimonies of the individuals within are people that didn’t conform to the standards of there societies. Most were those like Abraham who left his home and went out in search of God’s purpose for his life or Daniel that would not be intimidated by the king to stop praying, or the three Hebrew children who would not bow to the image of King Nebuchadnezzar, but yet chose to be thrown in the fiery furnace.

As Christians we need to stand up and be counted. Not conforming to this world, and operating under its philosophy. We need to realize we were fearfully and wonderfully made in the image of God. Live our lives in the uniqueness in which we were created, celebrating each day, as a gift from God, enjoying life to it’s fullest. The reason some people won't follow you to church is that you act and look like your life stinks and always talking about what you don’t have instead of seeing what God has given you. Put a smile on your face knowing that God is with you, and if God is with you then who can be against you.

Judy Garland said, “Always be a first-rate version of yourself, instead of a second-rate version of somebody else.”