Who Am I, Anyway? Am I My Resume?

One of my favorite Broadway musicals is A Chorus Line. In one of the opening numbers, a dancer has a line that has been hidden in my heart for the past 28 years: "Who am I, anyway? Am I my resume?"

For the past 6 months, I've been unemployed. Through the grace of God, I have a certain level of job skills and talents, but apparently so do many other people who are also pursuing the jobs I'm not getting hired for.

Society (and Satan) would stick a variety of labels on me, hoping some will stick: jobless, homeless, penniless, addict, porno freak -- and, yes, even Christian. When I look into the mirror, I see only a reflection of who I am, gazing at the physical manifestation of a living, spiritual presence.

"Who am I, anyway?"

In looking to God, my Creator, and His living and active Word, I can find a more accurate description of who I was -- and have become.

"As for you," Paul tells us in his Letter to the Ephesians, "you were dead in your transgressions and sins, in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient. All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our sinful nature and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature objects of wrath. But because of His great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions -- it is by grace you have been saved." (Ephesians 2:1-5 NIV)

I challenge you to look into the mirror of God's Word -- do you see your fingerprints on any of what Paul describes?

At one time, all the labels fit. God, indeed, had mercy on me, a sinner. Who I wanted to be for nearly a quarter century was who I was without His grace -- and who I am today, saved only by His grace, is to be a work (created by God for His glory) that will continue until I meet the Lord.

"Am I my resume?"

As I wait faithfully for God to renew my opportunities to work and be responsible, I must look from the mirror, away from the piece of paper a resume is, and towards who it is that God saved me to be.

"And God raised us up with Christ," the apostle Paul continues in his letter, "and seated us with Him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, in order that in the coming ages He might show the incomparable riches of His grace, expressed in His kindness to us in Christ Jesus. For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith -- and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God -- not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do." (Ephesians 2:6-10 NIV, italics added)

As a man, as a Christian, I cannot boast of anyone or anything but the work Jesus did on the cross. Even my future employer will not see that qualification on my resume. Only through grace does God give me the strength and honestly to be who I am -- a sinner saved by grace, through faith alone.

So today I look towards Christ, the author and finisher of my faith. I can answer those questions:

"Who am I, anyway?"

I am Yours, Lord. Thank You for grace, mercy, and love.

"Am I my resume?"

No. And I look forward to doing even more of the good works God has prepared in advance for me to do. No matter where my resume is on His desk, I remain faithful to His call.