You Are an Individual
Who Are You? Some people can’t answer this question honestly because they don’t know themselves. They know their name, address, birthdate and various other vital statistics, however many don’t know who they are as a person. This is especially true as young people are going through their teenage years. They are trying to fi nd their identity; who they really are and where they are going with their life. To be accepted by society the peer pressure is very strong. In order to be popular or to even have a friend, many youth feel they must change the way they are. They change the way they act, the way they dress and even they way they look, i.e. their hair colour and use of cosmetics. They try to be someone different and unfortunately many times it leads them to violate their conscience in order to be accepted. They are not content with the way God created their appearance, therefore they feel they must improve on God’s handiwork. Many are not happy with the way their parents brought them up, especially if they have a distinctive
heritage or religious or cultural customs. They attempt to change, to be someone different. They want to bury the past and become an individual – distinct and separate from their family.
Maybe they have some idol of a person that they copy such as a singer, athlete or movie star, in order to fi nd identity.
What God wants from you is fi rst of all to be honest and recognize who you really are. You are an individual. God created you distinct and different from anyone else on this earth. He took special care to create you and is sad when you don’t appreciate His handiwork and try to change your individuality to imitate some faulty example or by conforming to the customs and habits of this world, rather than trying to imitate the perfect example of Jesus. They forget how important they are to Jesus. He cares for them very much and knows their identity.
“But now thus saith the LORD that created thee, O Jacob, and he that formed thee, O Israel, Fear not: for I have redeemed thee, I have called thee by thy name; thou art mine.” Isaiah 43:1. You are special to Him.
What does the word individuality really mean? Is it character? No, it is not. Our character needs to be changed in order for us to be ready for heaven, since our character is all that we will take with us to heaven.
Individuality is distinguished by peculiar and marked characteristics; a distinct individual.
Since we are individuals each of us must be saved as an individual.
No person on this earth can save us therefore we should be seeking to conform to Christ and not to the world, since only Christ can save us. “There are rights which belong to every individual. We have an individuality and an identity that is our own. No one can submerge his identity in that of any other. All must act for themselves, according to the dictates of their own conscience.” TM 422. Now as we read this last sentence, does that mean that we all have different standards because we are told that we must follow the dictates of our own conscience? Paul says, “Let every man be fully persuaded in his own mind.” Romans 14:5.
Nothing could be further from the truth. We do not have a variety of standards – there is only one standard of truth and yet we each are still to maintain our own individuality under that umbrella of truth. We are not built from the same mould.
“The life of each one must be hid with Christ in God. Men are under God’s control, not under the control of weak, erring human beings. They are to be left free to be guided by the Holy Spirit, not by the fitful, perverse spirit of unsanctified men.” UL 227
“As regards our responsibility and influence, we are amenable to God as deriving our life from Him. This we do not obtain from humanity, but from God only. We are His by creation and by redemption. Our very bodies are not our own, to treat as we please, to cripple by habits that lead to decay, making it impossible to render to God perfect service. Our lives and all our faculties belong to Him. He is caring for us every moment; He keeps the living machinery in action; if we were left to run it for one moment; we should die. We are absolutely dependent upon God.” TM 422/423. Unfortunately many do not appreciate what God has done for them. They turn their backs on God and conform to the world.
HUSBANDS AND WIVES
Here is where many make mistakes, especially if their spouse does not accept the truth. Many have been lost since they did not have the courage of their convictions to stand up for the truth in the family circle. They chose to conform to the worldly ways of their spouse for fear of losing their spouse and disrupting family unity. They decided that the best way to maintain family unity was to give up their individuality and merge it into their spouse.
“Neither the husband nor the wife should merge his or her individuality in that of the other. Each has a personal relation to God. Of Him each is to ask, ‘What is right?’ ‘What is wrong?’ ‘How may I best fulfil life’s purpose?’ Let the wealth of your affection flow forth to Him who gave His life for you. Make Christ first and last and best in everything. As your love for Him becomes deeper and stronger your love for each other will be purified and strengthened.” 1MCP 154
“We have an individuality of our own, and the wife’s individuality is never to be sunk into that of her husband. God is our Creator. We are His by creation, and we are His by redemption. We want to see how much we can render back to God, because He gives us the moral power, He gives us the efficiency, He gives us the intellect; and He wants us to make the most of these precious gifts to His name’s glory.” 1MCP 154
COUNSEL TO A SISTER
“My beloved sister, cling to the truth. Obtain an experience for yourself. You have an individuality. You are accountable only for the manner in which you, independent of all others, use the light that shines upon your pathway. The lack of consecration in others will be no excuse for you. The fact that they pervert the truth by their wrong course of action, because they are unsanctified by it, will not render you less responsible. A solemn obligation rests upon you to exalt the standard of truth, to bear it aloft. Even if the standard-bearer faints and falls, do not leave the precious standard to trail in the dust. Seize it, and bear it aloft, even at the peril of your good name, your worldly honor, and your life, if required. My much-respected sister, I entreat you to look up. Cling fast to your heavenly Father’s hand. Jesus, our Advocate, lives to make intercession for us. Whoever may deny the faith by their unholy lives, it does not change the truth into a lie. Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are His. ‘Watch ye and pray, lest ye enter into temptation.’ At times I fear that your feet will slide, that you will refuse to walk in the humble, straight, and narrow way which leads to eternal life in the kingdom of glory.” 2T 490
CHILDREN
We all raise our children with the hope that some day they will commit their lives unto the Lord. Sometimes it is difficult to find the line between letting our children have their own individuality as we expect them to conform to the ways of the Lord while they are living under our roof. It is said of Abraham that, “For I know him, that he will command his children and his household after him, and they shall keep the way of the LORD, to do justice and judgment; that the LORD may bring upon Abraham that which he hath spoken of him.” Genesis 18:19. We are to do as Abraham did, but preserve the individuality of our children.
“Allow the children under your care to have an individuality, as well as yourselves. Ever try to lead them, but never drive them.” 5T 653. This is something that we all as parents need to strive to attain.
IN THE CHURCH
“With earnest solemnity the Speaker declared: ‘The church is made of many minds, each of whom has an individuality. I gave My life in order that men and women, by divine grace, might blend in revealing a perfect pattern of My character, while at the same time retaining their individuality. No one has the right to destroy or submerge the individuality of any other human mind, by uttering words of criticism and faultfinding and condemnation.’ UL 216.7 The Lord does not want a church full of robots. He wants intelligent service from His followers.
“Each one has an individuality of his own, which he is not to sink in that of any other man. Yet each is to work in harmony with his brethren. In their service God’s workers are to be essentially one. No one is to set himself up as a criterion, speaking disrespectfully of his fellow workers or treating them as inferior. Under God each is to do his appointed work, respected, loved, and encouraged by the other laborers. Together they are to carry the work forward to completion.” AA 275/6
AMONG GOD’S PEOPLE
Here is a very important counsel about individuality. How far should we go? “The Lord would not have us yield up our individuality. But what man is a proper judge of how far this matter of individual independence should be carried?” 3T 360
“Peter exhorts his brethren: ‘Likewise, ye younger, submit yourselves unto the elder. Yea, all of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble.’ 1 Peter 5:5. The apostle Paul also exhorts his Philippian brethren to unity and humility: ‘If there be therefore any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any bowels and mercies, fulfil ye my joy, that ye be like-minded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind. Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves. Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others. Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus.’ Phil. 2:1-4. Again Paul exhorts his brethren: ‘Let love be without dissimulation. Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good. Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honor preferring one another. Romans 12:9, 10. In writing to the Ephesians he says: ‘Submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God.’ Eph. 5:21.” 3T 360
“My brethren, let us put all this aside. We have no right to keep our minds stayed on ourselves, our preferences, and our fancies. We are not to seek to maintain a peculiar identity of our own, a personality, an individuality, which will separate us from our fellow laborers. We have a character to maintain, but it is the character of Christ. Having the character of Christ, we can carry on the work of God together. The Christ in us will meet the Christ in our brethren, and the Holy Spirit will give that union of heart and action which testifies to the world that we are children of God. May the Lord help us to die to self and be born again, that Christ may live in us, a living, active principle, a power that will keep us holy.” 9T 187/8
“Under the figure of the vine and its branches is illustrated the relation of Christ to His followers and the relation of His followers to one another. The branches are all related to one another, yet each has an individuality which is not merged in that of another. All have a common relation to the vine and depend upon it for their life, their growth, and their fruitfulness. They cannot sustain one another. Each for itself must be centred in the vine. And while the branches have a common likeness, they also present diversity. Their oneness consists in their common union with the vine, and through each, though not in just the same way, is manifested the life of the vine.
“This figure has a lesson, not only for individual Christians, but for the institutions that are engaged in God’s service. In their relation to one another each is to maintain its individuality. Union with one another comes through union with Christ. In Him each institution is united to every other, while at the same time its identity is not merged in that of another.” 7T 171
FEARFUL
While the Lord does not want us to conform to the world, He does desire us to be distinct and separate from the world. We are called to be individuals, rather than conformists to the world.
Some are afraid of being an individual for the Lord. They are conformists. They feel they must be like everyone else. Witness the love of fashion that exists in our world today. Thousands of dollars are wasted on unnecessary clothing, simply for the sake of fashion – not necessity. But people feel they must conform to the changing fashions for fear of being an outcast from society, or not be as popular.
JOHN THE BAPTIST
John was definitely an individual. He did not conform to the society of his day. He was distinctive… many people knew of him and his ministry and flocked to him, and how was he described?
“And the same John had his raiment of camel’s hair, and a leathern girdle about his loins; and his meat was locusts and wild honey.” Matthew: 3:4
John was noticed by society because of his diet and his dress. He did not conform to society in his day, but he was very popular.
ELIJAH
How was Elijah recognized? He didn’t conform to society in his time either. In fact there was a time that he thought he was the only one who was a worshipper of the true God, however he still refused to turn from his service to the Lord.
When King Ahaziah was given a description of this man that his messengers had met on their way to Baalzebub, he knew right away it was Elijah. No name was mentioned, but this was the description that the messengers gave.
“And he said unto them, What manner of man [was he] which came up to meet you, and told you these words? And they answered him, He was an hairy man, and girt with a girdle of leather about his loins. And he said, It is Elijah the Tishbite. 2 Kings 1:7,8.
Only his dress and physical appearance was mentioned. He apparently must have dressed different from the rest of society.
From that description alone, King Ahaziah was able to identify him. Elijah was an individual for the Lord, he was not a conformist into society.
“And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.” Romans 12:2
IN BABYLON
Daniel and his three friends were captives in Babylon and most of us know the story of how he and his friends decided not to eat food off the king’s table (Daniel chapter 1). It is important to remember that these four young men were not the only ones who were taken captive from Jerusalem. There were many princes and nobles who also ended up in the king’s court, however the others did not have the courage to stand for their individual rights and faith. They conformed to the customs of the land. Only three are seen standing tall when King Nebuchadnezzar set up his statue in the Plain of Dura. They chose to be individuals. They were tried and tested, but they came off victorious. In the end they received more honour in the kingdom than did the conformists.
May God help each one of us to have the courage to maintain our individuality in Christ and not conform to the customs and habits of the world, or to other people. God not only made you as an special individual, He also has a special plan for your life and may you fulfil His plan in your life.
Amen.
Wendy Eaton, Australia