“I am” is the name God calls Himself with. When God sent Moses to the Israelites, Moses asked God, “Suppose I go to the Israelites and say to them, ‘The God of your fathers has sent me to you,’ and they ask me, ‘What is his name?’ Then what shall I tell them?”
“God said to Moses, “I am who I am. This is what you are to say to the Israelites: ‘I am has sent me to you.’”” (Exodus 3:13-14)
The image of this invisible God, whose name is “I am,” is Jesus Christ (Colossians 1:15).
This is the way I understand the meaning of “I am.” It means, there is no one like “I am.” None other like “I am.” No one who can compare or compete with “I am.” He has no rivalry. He is “I am.” None other!
So, the only name that can fits Him right is “I Am”
And Jesus expresses the features of “I am” in ways we can understand:
- I am the bread of life (John 6:35);
- I am the light of the world (John 8:32);
- I am the gate for the sheep (John 10:7);
- I am the good Shepherd (John 10:11);
- I am the resurrection and the life (John 11:25);
- I am the way, the truth and the life (John 14:6);
- I am the true vine (John 15:1)
You know what these descriptions of “I am” help me understand? They help me understand that “I am” is the air I breath, the only One I need in this life (song by Mat Kearney, “Air I breath”).
When I seek peace, joy and rest (means I am hungry for life), Jesus is the Bread of life who can satisfy my hunger (Isaiah 55:1).
When life throws me curve balls and corners me in dark, I have to remember that Jesus is my light and my salvation (Psalm 27:1). He is the only One who turns my darkness into light (Psalm 18:28). So, even when I walk through the shadow of death, I fear no evil for He, the Light of this world, is with me (Psalm 23:4).
When I am scared to approach the throne of God because of sin, I have to remember that Jesus Christ, the One who died for my sin, is the Gate I go through to approach the mercy seat of the Father (Hebrews 4:16 & Ephesians 3:12).
When I feel lost and my life is falling apart, I have to remember that Jesus is the good Shepherd who lays down His life for His sheep (John 10:28-29), that means when I feel like my life is falling apart, it is actually falling into place (Romans 8:28) and when I feel lost, I have to remember that I am hopelessly found by God, never to be lost or snatched out of His hand by anything and anybody (Romans 8:38-39, song by Casting Crowns, “Held”).
When I get scared of dying or sad by loved ones who have departed from this life, I have to comfort myself knowing that “I am” is the resurrection and the life (John 11:25).
When I find myself confused, not knowing which way to take or what to do next, I have to remember that “I am” is the way, the truth and the life.
When I feel empty, feeling like I am not competent enough to do the task that is at hand, I have to remember that I am not the source, I am not the vine but “I Am.” He is the One who is the Vine. All I have to do is to fix my eyes on Him and live like a branch, knowing that all my limitations and lacks will fade away when I bring them all to the the Source of life, the Spring of life, “I Am”.
Wow! Did you see that?
Where are you in life? What do your flesh and the enemy of your soul whisper into your ears? What is nagging you today? What is there that is trying to put you down?
Run to “I Am”. ///