by Bishop Francisco Quezada

“But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace toward me was not in vain” – 1 Corinthians 15:10

As young people, at some point in life, we all come to have existential questions in our search for meaning, identity, and mission. Questions like “Who am I?” “What am I here for?” “What should I do with my life?”

Finding the right answers in a world of many options is essential since they will determine the course we will follow. Considering this, I encourage you to meditate on three truths the Bible teaches about your identity in order to shape your way of thinking and fulfill the mission established for sharing the Good News of salvation.

1. You are a young person created in the image and likeness of God

God created us in his image and likeness (Genesis 1:26). He is Spirit (John 4:24), and this means that being made in His image does not refer to our physical appearance but to our special ability to think, feel, and decide. We have intellect, emotions, and will.

God expects us to manage our intellect well and filter what feeds our minds (Philippians 4:8), and He also expects us to take care of our hearts (Proverbs. 4:23) since we always make decisions based on what we think and feel.

It is essential to acknowledge that we were created as male and female, with distinct roles assigned by God based on our gender. The Bible does not allow for any interpretation that contradicts this principle. Therefore, as individuals, we must embrace our gender-specific roles assigned by God.

2. You are a young person created with divine purpose

God “gives life to the dead, and calls things that are not as though they were” (Romans 4:17). This verse tells us about the Lord of purposes. You were created according to God’s plan, even if your birth was not planned.

God is also omniscient. This means that he knows everything about you. He knows your past, your present, and your future. He knows the circumstances you were born into (Psalm 71:6), your present struggles, and what lies ahead for you because He designed and foresaw it.

His gaze is within you (1 Samuel 16:7). He is so interested in you that He wants to listen to you daily, interact with you, and make known to you through His Word the plans He has for you as you seek Him. Young man and young woman, you have a great purpose in God’s hands. You are an arrow, which God is preparing and molding to launch you with a purpose.

Cecil B. De Miles, the director of the famous movie “The 10 Commandments,” said, “We cannot break God’s law; we can only break ourselves and crash against the law.”

A young person with purpose is molded by The Word. God’s principles are universal; they are like beacons. They do not change. They are in our path of life to guide us, guide us to change our behavior, and protect us.

3. You are imperfect in the hands of the perfect God who brings you to perfection.

Our imperfection is part of our fallen, sin-stained nature. The Bible teaches that none of us is righteous (Romans 3:10). Even the apostle Paul claimed to be the worst of sinners (1 Timothy 1:15). We need to acknowledge our many imperfections. This humbles us and leads us to rejoice even more in the gospel. “But God demonstrates his love for us, in that, while we were still sinners, Christ died for us” Romans 5: 8. We have an identity defined by God, based on the Bible and not on human philosophies.

Although we are imperfect, we are in the hands of a perfect God. Only through Christ can we walk by the Spirit. Thus, we can defeat the desires of our sinful nature. Likewise, He has given us His Word so that we can be changed by it.

“Therefore, be perfect as your heavenly Father is perfect,” Matthew 5:48. Jesus’ call to perfection is a call to a life that is not based on the programmatic and superficial fulfillment of the law of God as if it were a simple code of ethics and morals for the believer. Rather, it is the call to a life that finds its inspiration in God’s character and observes the One to whom the law points: Jesus Christ. It refers to merging the character of Christ into ours and thus being able to reflect it.

What purpose does reflecting Christ in your life serve?

Paul says that we are ambassadors for Christ (2 Corinthians 5:20). An ambassador is an official envoy who represents a foreign sovereign and provides a link between his host country and the country he represents. Ambassadors work to build relationships and develop policies that favor both the host and the ambassador’s home country. An ambassador is appointed by the leadership of those whom he represents and is given the authority to speak on his behalf.

An ambassador must be very careful. He lives in one country but is responsible to another. He must represent the message of a leader who is not directly present. He must also face the character of his home country, following the laws and customs that are not necessarily known or welcome in the host nation. Being an ambassador for Christ is the fulfillment of the incredibly important kingdom perspective. Following Christ means leaving the kingdom of oneself and the kingdom of the world and having loyalty to the Kingdom of God. It means that our home is heaven and not earth. Our responsibility is to tell others the good news through friendship groups or individually so that they, too, can join the Kingdom of God. This is our mission.

Conclusion

These truths about our identity and mission have massive implications. For example, they remind us that we have a defined identity by God based on the Bible and not on human philosophies. They also lead us to understand that our most important purposes are in God and not in earthly things.

Likewise, knowing who we are helps us to see our virtues, to serve God with excellence and weaknesses, and to beg God to work in our being. Only then can we recognize what the apostle Paul said: “But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace toward me was not in vain” (1 Cor 15:10).

Is your understanding of your identity based on the Bible? Are you delving into these truths for the glory of God? Are you fulfilling the mission?

About the Author

Bishop Francisco Quezada is the current Secretary of National Missions. He is a third-generation apostolic believer baptized in Jesus Christ in February 1974, filled with the Holy Spirit in 1975, and ordained on February 10, 1980. He began pastoral work at 19, serving in Mexicali until he moved to the US in 1988. He led churches in Barstow, California, and Mecca, California before becoming a pastor in Corona, California, in 2012. Bishop Quezada held leadership roles in the Apostolic Assembly, including Secretary of Social Assistance and Secretary of National Missions. He graduated from the International Apostolic Theological Institute in Tepic, México, and the Latin American Theological Seminary in La Puente, California, and obtained a Master of Divinity from McCormick Theological Seminary in 2021. Currently residing in Perris, California, with his wife Elizabeth, they have four children and nine grandchildren.