One of the largest modern art museums in Europe holds more than 20,000 pieces, including works by Picasso, Salvador Dali, and for a short time, one of its own employees—who has since been fired.
Why? Because the 51-year-old man who worked in tech for the museum is himself a freelance artist. He decided to sneak his own art into the museum in hopes of a breakthrough.
He used his credentials to access one of the more popular exhibits after hours, drilled a couple holes into an empty spot on the wall, hung his own 2’x4’ painting, and dreamed of becoming somebody famous. Instead, he was fired, and now faces criminal charges.
Everybody wants to be a somebody. Kiddos want to grow up to be Elsa, Wonder Woman or Spiderman. Teenagers aspire to be the most popular in the class.
College students pay for expensive degrees to land the dream career. Professionals pursue promotions, or at least the pride of being recognized for outperforming peers.
Moms let themselves go, losing their personal identity in the lives of their kids and actually using their own children for selfish affirmations. Husbands get lost, too, in their own world of work or hobbies or alcohol or anything to help them escape the stress of family life.
And musicians all want to electrify the crowd like they’re Elvis, jump into a mosh pit and body surf across a sea of raving fans.
Nobody wants to be a nobody. That’s a good thing. The driving desire to be somebody is part of our divine design. But how do we define the “somebody” we want to be? And what is it about the fear of being a “nobody” that makes us delusional enough to think we can exhibit our own free land achievements next to Picasso and get some likes?
The definition of a “nobody” and a “somebody” needs some clear, biblical teaching. The best place to begin a quest about identity is to go back to our origin, where we began, when we were made and why, and how it all happened. And I mean way back to the real beginning, when God created our first parents: Adam and Eve.
If you’ve read the true Bible account of creation, what identity did God give to Adam and Eve when he made them? “God created mankind in his own image … male and female he created them” (Genesis 1:27). That means God reflected his perfect righteousness and holiness in the first two people he created, Adam and Eve.
No identity is better than bearing the image of God. But the devil attracted Adam and Eve to the idea that their God-given identity wasn’t enough. Eager to create their own identity that would replace their God-given identity, Adam and Eve ate the forbidden fruit. They broke into God’s gallery and hung their own artwork.
God has a choice to make. More on that tomorrow. Stay tuned.
PRAYER: God, thank you for the best identity given to humanity at creation: your image. Today we pursue that identity as fallen sinners, and need your guidance and grace. Restore us, and lead us to the best version of us in you. Amen.
FURTHER STUDY: Read Genesis 3 and get the details.
