James Randi is a renowned stage magician who has astounded the world with his feats of dexterity and skill. At one point, he hung suspended over Niagara Falls, bound in a straitjacket. He had to escape or risk embarrassment before the world.
He was who he said he was—an escape artist of consummate skill—or he was a liar. He had to make his claims good.
Artist Deyvi Pena traveled the world with Randi as Jose Alvarez. In 2011, Pena was arrested for passport fraud and identity theft. For 24 years, Pena had been living under the auspices of an identity that wasn’t his to claim.
Pena carried false identity papers, and the truth finally caught up with him.
Are we who we say we are? 1 John 1:9 tells us:
“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”
In that singular act, we take on the identity of Jesus. His identity papers become ours.
We must carry our identification with us every day. We must be who we say we are. If we tout Christ as our savior, we hang over Niagara Falls, and the world is watching us. If sin begins to bind our actions, and we can’t cast our straitjacket free, then where is the salvation we’ve bragged about before the world?
How did Pena get caught? The real Jose Alvarez applied for a passport, and there could be only one true Jose Alvarez.
When Jesus returns for his own, how closely will we resemble him? Or will he stamp “False Identity Papers” on our file and throw away the keys?
The choice is ours. Become like Christ or remain like the world. Our actions are the proof of who we are.
There’s only one Christ, and our purpose is to become just like him.
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Code: FGO.G.16.15b.vp.esv