Tip of My Iceberg

We went all out.

Yes, we’re fans of the American men’s soccer team. Shamelessly. We went as far as putting sparkly tattoos on our faces with stars, flags, and USA emblazoned across our faces. We rooted wildly for the US to beat Australia, with almost twenty people in our family room, screaming with joy when we scored, moaning in unison when one of our own players was hurt. We were, without a doubt, fan folks.

When the US won, our neighbors could probably hear our victory cries for miles.

Our saving grace is that we don’t do this every day. Screaming is limited. Usually.

The frustration was with the sparkly tattoos. After cleaning up from the World Cup watch party, I began getting ready for bed. I washed my face, as usual, and then I glanced into the mirror.

The tattoo with all its sparkles was still there.

I washed my face again, rubbing harder. Still there.

I tried different wash options, scrubbing to the point where my cheeks were rosier than Santa’s at Christmas. I started scraping at the tattoo with my fingernails, and that helped a little.

The sparkly was still there.

Other options seemed too severe. I wanted my skin to stay on my face.

Watching the World Cup, fans from all over the world are identifying themselves with their home teams. Americans are proudly wearing red, white, and blue, many painting flags on their faces. The Dutch are all wearing orange, just like their players. Mexican fans are wearing oversized sombreros with brightly colored lucha libre wrestling masks to honor a type of professional wrestling style in Mexico and other Latin countries. Moroccan fans wear lion-themed clothing to identify with their Atlas Lions, the name of the Moroccan men’s national team. Team scarves are waved at every game.

People everywhere often try to identify with people they respect or idolize. It’s how influencers make their money; they front for a product or style that others pick up on because they want to be just like those they see on social media.

We become identified with God when we trust Him to redeem us from our messy lives. He gives us His Comforter to teach, encourage, and guide us through life. “It’s in Christ that you, once you heard the truth and believed it (this Message of your salvation), found yourselves home free–signed, sealed, and delivered by the Holy Spirit. This down payment from God is the first installment on what’s coming, a reminder that we’ll get everything God has planned for us, a praising and glorious life.” Ephesians 1:13-14

Once we choose to allow God to forgive us and ransom us from eternal death, He commits to us for eternity. He doesn’t go back on His promises, He doesn’t give up on us when we make mistakes, and He never lessens His lavish love for us. He marks us as His by giving us His Holy Spirit to help us to live a life different from that of the world.

It took a long time and more work than I imagined to get rid of my glittery tattoo. It was fine throughout the game, but it wasn’t anything I wanted to wear all the time. I am an American fan, but I’m not willing to wear my “fan-ness” all the time.

But my identity in Jesus through His Holy Spirit?

I’ll wear that proudly throughout eternity.