THANKFUL

When you became a Christ-follower, God placed an I.D. badge over your heart, identifying you as his own. He put his official seal on your badge and placed his Spirit to live within you forever. —Ephesians 1:13 (King Jimmy Translation)

“Wear Your I.D. Badge”

Our company issues I.D. badges that verify us as employees. The unflattering picture on my badge looks like it belongs in the Most Wanted bulletins in the post office. No matter, my mug shot identifies me by name and face as being a member of the work team.

My I.D. badge allows me to roam the campus freely. When I scan my badge, doors magically open. Scan my badge, office machines obey my commands. Best of all, if I’m in the right building at the right time, I can walk into the elite’s john as if I own the place. My badge allows me entry to places where outsiders are denied.

The management requires us to strictly follow one rule: always wear your I.D. badge while on duty. Because we employ several-hundred people, it’s impossible to know everyone in the company. If someone without an I.D. badge wanders around the campus, we’re instructed to tactfully ask if they need help, while silently determining if they are friend or foe. At times, employees must implement the gang-tackling approach on the badge-less stranger and ask questions later.

I wear another badge, too.

When I joined the family of Christ-followers, God issued me his I.D badge. He personally hung his I.D. badge upon my heart, then put his official seal on it, making it impossible to remove. Written in bold red letters, God’s badge states my identity: Jimmy—Child of the Most-High God.

Everyone in the family of God receives this identification. No exceptions.

Another thing I should mention. Satan sees God’s I.D. badge as a bullseye. Again—no exceptions.

Before experiencing God’s incredible grace, I lived the typical happy-go-lucky lifestyle of the foolish. My hardheadedness pushed me ahead any way possible, even if I stepped on someone in the process. The altar of pleasure found me as a regularly worshipper. My racing career brought me the vanity of celebrity, which constantly stroked my ego.

If anyone has his act together, it has to be Jimmy, people thought.

Despite all the attention and exposure, something was missing. I lived the ideal, fun-filled life, but I was only a pickle on Satan’s hamburger. I posed no threat to him. My lifestyle suited Satan, so he left me alone to my own demise. But at times, just for laughs, he’d nudge me to do something more stupid than my last dumb act.

Satan was beside himself when God extended his grace to me—and I accepted his offer. When Satan saw my new I.D. badge with the picture of Jesus and me arm-in-arm, he lost his composure. He shook his fist in my face and swore to get revenge. Satan despised my new lifestyle since he no longer owned me. Jesus purchased me at the cross when he paid the penalty for my sins. Satan declared open season on me.

At first, I felt like I wore antlers. Satan attacked with a full barrage in attempts to bring chaos and discouragement. He attacked relentlessly, but God’s relentless grace warded off the devil’s onslaught.

Not seeing the results he wanted, the devil’s tactics became more subtle. Instead of roaring like a lion, he whispered lies into my ear. As a new Christ-follower, some of his half-truths made sense. But they were still lies.

I bet the devil whispers some lies to you, too. Here are some of his favorite whoppers.

Who are you to talk about living right? With your past, who’ll listen to you? Zap! —he shoots a fiery dart at my I.D. target.

Why should God keep his word to you since you fail him time and again? He flings another false accusation.

Incoming! “You’re such a loser. You’ll never amount to anything.”

Zip! Zip! Another series of lies from the father of lies targeted my salvation. “This Jesus guy may have been a good teacher, but a deity? Come on, man, you’re smarter than that! Society has proven him otherwise.”

Satan shoots this lie at me a lot: Don’t stand up for God in the public square. With your speech impediment, you’ll make a fool of yourself.

Even though Satan aggressively targets God’s I.D. badge, the benefits of wearing the badge negates any attack.

My badge assures me that my eternity is secure.

My badge confirms God’s unconditional love for me.

My badge certifies that God supplies my needs.

My badge grants me access to God’s throne room.

My badge indicates God’s Holy Spirit lives within me and guides me in all things.

My badge reassures me that God will keep every promise he made.

When I swipe my badge to enter Heaven’s armory, God custom-fits his armor on me. He gives me his breastplate of righteousness, his helmet of salvation, and his holy marching boots, since I carry God’s message of grace and forgiveness wherever I go. Because God’s I.D. badge covers my heart, his strength enables me hold up the shield of faith to block Satan’ incoming missiles. My badge grants me the authority to use God’s word—the sword of the Spirit—to remind Satan that Jesus defeated him at Calvary. Christ-followers have no fear of death and the grave now.

Satan must get past my I.D badge first before he can get to me. That makes him mad.

That gives me peace.

Thank you, Lord, for issuing your I.D. badge that identifies us as your children, protecting us from the devil’s attacks. May our lives bring you glory.

Stay close to Jesus.

Jimmy

P.S. Recent changes to the I.D. badges left most employees uneasy.

I don’t know about you Jimmy, but I’m not comfortable with these new I.D. badges.

 

Jimmy Eskew © 2017