It seems that, as we go about life, a requirement in the world is building an identity. I mean, that’s the point of going to school and getting a career, right? Yes, money is nice and a necessity in life, but our identity seems to be our main goal. So, my question to you is, “What determines your identity?”

When do we come to this point where we’ve received an identity? Is it when we have a well-paying job? Is it when we get married and start a family? Do we finally acquire an identity at the end of our lives, or is it something obtained after death that we cannot enjoy?

I’ve seen a lot of people tie their identity to their possessions. We see celebrities that have their identities tied to their accomplishments; the music they make, their acting abilities, etc.

Think of all you’ve accomplished in life. Even if it’s something minute, like a middle school spelling bee trophy. Then take it all away. Take away everything you own. Take away everything you’ve accomplished. Take away all you love. Now with all of that gone, do you still matter?

The reason I ask is because, too many times, we as humans tend to tie ourselves to our possessions and accomplishments, but when it comes down to it, do they really matter? Life is to be enjoyed, but in the grand scheme, we're a speck of dust. Here one day and gone the next. All of our possessions, all of our money, and all of our awards mean nothing when we die. Now, people can argue with me all they want, but in reality, life is temporary. We have no permanent residence here. We are born, we go about life, and then we die. You can be a CEO of a company or a poor man living in a shelter. You will both meet the same fate: death.

Death is a hard reality, which we tend to stay away from. We don’t let that thought cross our minds, that one day we will die. We can’t fathom the idea of our own deaths, and we resist the temptation to even try comprehending the thought. There’s no hope in death, only life.

So then, how do we deal with this? When we take our blinders off, and face this black reality that our accomplishments are meaningless, what do we do? We turn to God.

There was a man by the name of Solomon. The Lord blessed him with great wisdom, surpassing that of anyone who would ever live. He went about life and accomplished all that anyone would think is fulfilling. He was wise, he had all the women he could want, and he was the king of Israel. He could have anything he wanted, and found that it all meant nothing, because once he died, he couldn’t take it with him. All his accomplishments would pass on to the next generation, and then from that generation to the next, and so on. Life is made for us to enjoy, but Solomon saw that when the happiness faded and we were forced to deal with reality, death was waiting for us. He saw that all was meaningless, unless for God. Our way to God is through Jesus Christ.

Jesus Christ was the way to give our lives meaning. He went to the cross and died for us so that we could have a relationship with God. He then rose from the grave three days later, conquering death, the very thing that continues to defeat us humans every day. This act is the gateway to meaning for our lives. Because of Christ, we can have an open relationship with God and Him.

Now what does that mean? That means life doesn’t end after death. That means that we can be with Christ one day in heaven, because He died for our sins.

What is sin? Sin is bad, for a very basic definition. Sin is the very reason that we are doomed to die. It is the ability all humans possess to do evil. Whether it be lying or murder, sin is all that is bad, and because of it, we cannot have a relationship with God, who is good.

However, Christ paid for our sins when He died on the cross. Every single sin that we have and ever will commit in life was paid for on the cross. The only thing we have to do is believe in Jesus. We have to believe that what Christ did was real and follow Him.

First step, believe in what Jesus did. The next step, say a prayer admitting to Jesus that you are a sinner, and that you want to change and follow Him from now on in life. Then, follow what Jesus taught.The greatest commands that He said were to love God with all of your heart, and to love your neighbor as you love yourself.

Our identity is nothing unless it is tied in Christ. For Christians, you can take away all we love and all we have, and we will still have Christ, because His Spirit resides within us. That's something that can never be taken away. Everyone who reads this, know that Christ loves you and that all you have to do is to love Him back and follow His commandments.

God bless.