Mistaken Identity

I was at a meeting last night and one of the attendees asked if the myspace page he saw was mine. The Mark Noonan in question seemed to be talking about the benefit of guns. I assured him, no that wasn't me, although i may find guns more beneficial when my daughters begin to date a few years down the road (ha-ha).

Other than on a computer, I haven't really even been mistaken for someone else. In younger days, I may have jokingly said I wish I was mistaken for someone famous or rich, or somehow create a false identity like Michael J. Fox's character in the movie, "Secret of my Success", but it's never been a real desire.

Now having said all of that as an adult, I have strived with some purpose to be mistaken for someone else. The Apostle Paul said in Galatians 3, "You are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus, for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus." (verses 26-28 NIV translation)

As a follower of Jesus, Paul tells me I am clothed in Christ, which in my thinking means I resemble Christ. I remember back in the 80's being infatuated with the TV show Miami Vice. I wanted so much to be like Don Johnson's character Sonny Crocket. I even went to the point of trying to dress like him. I won't dress like Jesus, because they wore different clothing in Biblical times, but I do want to resemble him in other ways. I want people to mistake me for Jesus in the things I say and the things I do. Obviously, the only way for me to do that well is if I am staying close to Jesus.

There is nothing wrong with Mark Noonan, but I think my life has infinite more value and purpose if people can see me as Jesus. Like Paul if I can be all things to all people, some may be transformed by the likeness to Jesus.