New Identity

I was reading in Colossians this morning, about how God has taken away the written code, with its rules and regulations, and done away with it, nailing it to the cross. And it made me think . . .

There's a movie out now about a guy who is raised from birth to be an assassin. He doesn't even have a name, just a number. So I thought about someone like that, who has killed dozens of people, and for all intents and purposes has no conscience or remorse - killing is just his job and he's very good at it. So he gets caught, is brought to trial, and because of the numerous witnesses and overwhelming evidence he is convicted. All that's left is the sentencing. Of course, he gets the death penalty (and who cares about cruel and unusual punishment? The guy's a monster.)

After the sentence is handed down, the judge comes down from the bench, walks over to the killer and embraces him. The convict is already cuffed and shackled, but the judge wraps his arms around him and the guy is nearly lost inside the judge's black robe. But somehow, when the two come apart, the judge is wearing the orange jumpsuit and the handcuffs and shackles, and the assassin is wearing the black robes. The killer is confused, but the judge looks him in the eye and something passes between them before he is led away to death row.

The killer goes back to the judge's chambers, removes the robe, picks up the car keys and leaves. He goes to a nice house in the suburbs and assumes the life of a respectable citizen. What good fortune! He doesn't really understand what happened, and he keeps thinking someone is going to catch on. But after a day or two he starts to relax. It's hard, since he's never been a respectable citizen before, and he's a little lost. Still, he tries his best, as he knows how his story could have ended.

Since the judge (the real judge) has waived all rights to any appeals, his execution is carried out quickly. But the weird thing is, he shows up at his old house, knocks on the door and is face-to-face with the convicted killer. The killer thinks it's all over and prepares to go back to prison, but no, the judge isn't going to turn him in. Everyone thinks he's dead anyway, and good riddance. But the judge shows the convict how to use the lawn mower and trim the bushes. He goes with him shopping and shows him how to pick the best produce. Since the judge had speaking engagements and social obligations, he coaches the convict on what to say and how to act in those situations. The convict finds an entire network of friends and relationships that he had never experienced before. Sometimes, when he was driving or standing in the checkout line, he'd get exasperated with someone or annoyed and would start to slip into his old habit of anger and force. But the judge would lay his hand on his arm, and the convict would remember that he was no longer that person. Once in a while someone would look at him closely, as if they recognized that he was not the judge, but then they would relax and the suspicion passed.

As time went on, the killer wasn't just acting the part of the judge; it became who he was. He never completely forgot his past, but it was like another lifetime, a distant memory that became harder and harder to recall. There was always the remembrance that this life wasn't really his life; but one that belonged to someone else. He was just the recipient of extraordinary mercy and grace.

I hope that I learn to live this life as if it is not my own. Along with the benefits and blessings of belonging to Christ, there are also responsibilities to live up to the standard He has set for me. It is up to me to choose which life to live, His or mine. And His is definitely better.