The plaguing question … Who am I?

Editor’s note: This is a reprinted column from Jack Purcell’s “On the Journey” archives. It originally appeared in The Star in 2013.

It seems like every generation of people on this part of the globe are asking the same questions. Who am I and why am I here? The interesting thing is few seem to know the answers to those questions.

It reminds me of the story about the two drunks standing on a street corner at night. One pointed to the streetlight and said, "Is zat da moon up there?"

The other replied, "How you ‘spect me to know, I don't live round here."

Asking each other who we are seems to make about the same amount of sense. Any discussion about the “Who am I?” question inevitably leads us to the same place – conversation about self-image.

It may be worth asking what is a self-image really? It is surprising the multitudes of people who have a poor view of themselves.

Nearly anytime someone gets into trouble it is attributed to this thing called a poor self-image or self-worth. You would think by now someone would have come up with some form of emotional surgery to remove these poor self-images.

Even the Christian world doesn't seem to have mastered the PSI problem. The amazing thing is, this PSI problem is no respecter of persons.

Think about it. People in Joel Osteen’s church have PSI, people in Chuck Swindoll’s church, even your congregation, struggles with the PSI problem.

Surely you would think that people who practice spiritual discipline and read their Bibles every day would be free of PSI, but they are not. What in the world are we to do?

Tell me honestly – have you ever wondered whether Jesus had a poor self-image? Just a minute now, before you get your spiritual neck in a knot, think about this.

First, his mother conceived him and was pregnant out of wedlock. His family was poor. He and his father were definitely blue-collar workers. He was a preacher without a church.

People didn't believe him. He was ridiculed, made fun of and threatened. He wasn't successful in the eyes of his peers. Need I say more?

He seems to have at least as many reasons to have a poor self-image as many people I have known with PSI.

The dictionary defines an image as a copy or mental representation, a picture drawn by the fancy of one's self. A self-image must then be a mental representation or picture drawn by the fancy of one's self.

It all begins to sound like it comes back on us. Are we indeed bound by our experiences, be they good or bad? Are we enslaved to forever be what we think of ourselves or what we have believed about what others have said?

What if I want to rebel against my own mind and what it tells me? What if there is truth available to me that conflicts with my self-imaginings? There must be a way!

Yes, indeed, there is, and it is found in Romans Chapter 12, Verse 2. “And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed, by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.”

Notice something here? It does not say what you may have thought. It doesn't say, don't be like the world, change your behavior.

What Paul is saying is, don't get caught up by the world, rather overhaul the way you think. If you think poorly of yourself, then change the way you think and begin thinking the way God feels about you.

If you are willing to be as serious about what God says, as you have been about what you say, an amazing blessing is on your way.

It is impossible to have an accurate understanding of God's love and acceptance of you and have a poor self-image at the same time.

Think of it. This is not Mom or Dad or Uncle Fred I'm talking about, this is God. He loves you completely and unconditionally, and wants you to experience his love every day.

Oh, by the way, Jesus didn't have a poor self-image and if he lives in you, a poor self-image implies that Jesus isn't adequate for your situation.

So, who are you? You are a loved and accepted child of God. Imagine that!