Articles
Who Am I?
Who Am I?
Moses asked God, "Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh, and that I should bring the children of Israel out of Egypt" (Ex. 3:11)? Many people today wonder similar things. “Who am I that I should go to worship?” or “Who am I that I should obey the scriptures?” Some may ask, “Who am I that I should preach the gospel?”
1.) YOUNGER PEOPLE
Some younger people may wonder who they are. Some may ask, “Who am I that I should serve the Lord, when few others do?” It can be hard for some young people to resist temptation whether in high school, or in college. It can be hard for some to resist sharing in foolish talk or “corrupt communication” (Eph. 4:29). Young people should use extra caution in social networking. It can be hard to go against the flow when you are with your peers, but you can do it if you try. The reward is worth it. A person will attain more respect from respectable people if he/she refuses to partake of something evil. The conscience of the one who refuses evil and pursues purity will remain clear and free. Those who compromise will often reflect back with guilt. Solomon once wrote, “Remember now your Creator in the days of your youth...” (Eccl. 12:1). Younger Christians should let the world know that they serve a risen Savior! Committing your soul to God early in life will safeguard you from many pits and snares that can affect the rest of your days.
2.) OLDER PEOPLE
Some older people may ask, “Who am I that I should keep laboring in the Kingdom?” The older people who continue to press on with the bedrock principles laid forth in the Bible are highly appreciated. The Lord's church always used older folks to teach the younger. Imagine Timothy and Titus without Paul. Paul addressed them as his sons (1 Tim. 1:2; 2 Tim. 1:2; Titus 1:4). I am sure that Timothy's grandmother and mother, Lois and Eunice, help greatly with his faith (2 Tim. 1:5). How could the church ever have elders if people are retiring from the duty to our Lord? We need active, older Christians to guide the younger. The Ethiopian eunuch recognized this principle before his baptism, when he said concerning the ability to understand scripture, “How can I, unless someone guides me” (Acts 8:30-31). Older Christians should continue display that they are servants of the Most High.
3.) EVERYONE
There are many people, younger and older, who have had to take a stand either for something that is right, or against something that is wicked. We need not concern ourselves with the thoughts of men, but rather, the thoughts of God. Moses had to confront error all his life. He ran from it at first (Ex. 2:15). He tried to make excuses later (Ex. 4:10-17). However, with the Lord’s encouragement, Moses obeyed and became one of the greatest men to walk on earth. Later in life, Moses wrote, “You shall not follow a crowd to do evil...” (Ex. 23:2). This great statement has echoed throughout time to even now. The apostles answered the Jewish council; “We ought to obey God rather than men” (Acts 5:29).
Instead of asking “Who am I” to excuse ourselves from duty, or even like Pharaoh who asked, “Who is the LORD, that I should obey His voice…” (Ex. 5:2), we should ask, “Who am I to not serve God?” After all, “Are we stronger than He?” (1 Cor. 10:22)? We should ask, “What are the consequences of not serving God?” Since we can only serve one master, it is important to know who we serve. Agar wisely requested,
“Remove falsehood and lies far from me; Give me neither poverty nor riches—Feed me with the food allotted to me; lest I be full and deny You, and say, ‘Who is the LORD?’ Or lest I be poor and steal, and profane the name of my God” (Prov. 30:8, 9, emp. mine, sjw).
The fact that we can rise up in the morning and provide for ourselves (or be provided for), we have reason enough to honor God with whatever amount of strength we have.
The apostle asked,
“Do you not know that to whom you present yourselves slaves to obey, you are that one’s slaves whom you obey, whether of sin leading to death, or of obedience leading to righteousness?” (Rom. 6:16).
If we are not serving God in righteousness, who are we serving? “Who am I that I should serve sin and die?” The Word of God asks, “...Who knows whether you have come to the kingdom for such a time as this” (Esth. 4:14)? “Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord” (I Cor. 5:58). Let us all serve the Lord and attain the reward in heaven.
Steven J. Wallace
- Who_Am_I.pdf (69.12 kB)
