WHOSE LABEL ARE YOU WEARING AND REPRESENTING?

 

(Gen. 1:26a) "And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness."

(Luke 6:44a)  "For every tree is known by his own fruit."

(I Cor. 6:20) "For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God's."

(I Pet. 2:9) "But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light."

(Col. 3:10) "And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him."

LABEL - a form of identification to distinguish what something is or what contents are inside.

BRANDS - Printed or visible marks or symbols used to determine or identify the ownership or rights of something belonging to the maker or creator.

IDENTIFICATION - Means used to recognize an individual or something by a specific look, outward appearance/dress, character, speech, personality, physical attributes, etc., to prevent fraud or theft.

           In our world, we deal with all sorts of labels, brands and types of IDs. We see labels and brands while riding along the freeway, busy interstates, highways, etc. We see them when we click on our televisions in forms of ads or commercials. As shown in the video snippet, designers, product owners and distributors place their labels on their items to identify and represent what they are trying to sell. We see them when we shop, dine out or listening to our radios. They are important. How would one know what's inside a container or item unless there is some form of identifying label on the outside? They are great informers and helps us to organize better, especially in Corporate America. Brands gives us a clue of who the designer or manufacturer is sometimes without even checking out the product itself. The brand of an item often encourages us to purchase it just because of who made it. Non-brand items sometimes get overlooked due to the most popular "brand-named" items on display being chosen.

          We are identified not only by our name or fingerprints but by various personal cards such as Driver's Licenses, Photo ID badges, Social Security cards, tag numbers, voice and palm recognition devices, PIN (Personal Identification Numbers) or codes. These things are vital to prevent thefts of all kind. In the kingdom of God, we should be identified as belonging to Him and representing His label and His brand - HOLINESS. Since He is our maker and creator, there should be something on us, in us or about us that identifies us as belonging to Him. The world should be able to recognize that we belong to Him. Our speech, our character, our integrity, how we handle everyday situation differently from others should readily associate us with God.

          As with brand-name items, people are more prone to select them because of the quality than the quantity just because of the maker/designer. God designed us in His own image and His own likeness. He didn't make a Mess but made the Best! We are a chosen generation, a peculiar people with a purpose. We must wear God's label so well that people will know that what's on the outside characterizes what on the inside - The God in us! Our God-brand should stand-out among all the rest as we represent the Most High God! We must never be ashamed to be identified as His children. There is no reason why we in America should be ashamed to be identified as believers. In the early church, if one was identified as a Christian, it would cause them their life or much persecution. This is why they used the symbol of the "fish" <>< when they met strangers. One would draw one part of the fish in the sand, and if the other person was a Christian, the other part would be drawn. This was how they identified each other.

           We must take our stand in a world that has lost their true identity and represent our God in bringing them back to their creator and maker. Let us refuse to be identified, labeled or branded by the things not representing Christ. We have been Marked by the Maker! Let us go forth and do our part in displaying who we are, whose we are and letting the lost know who they are in Christ!