I AM

I am...” - John 1.20

Those two words mean more to me everyday of my Christian life.  They are used as a name for the Almighty God.  In Exodus 3.14 before God unleashed the incredible plagues on Egypt He said to Moses, and the people of Israel, “I AM THAT I AM”.  And “I AM” speaks of power and holiness, it speaks of things far beyond us!

Some of the scribes of the Bible would not even write certain of the names of God without first going through various steps of purification.  Often a new quill was used to write the name one time then it was destroyed.

So over the years as I hear myself using those words, “I am this...”, or “I am that...”, or hearing others say “I am this...”, or “I am that...”, it’s almost like using God’s name in vain – like swearing!

God is “I AM”!

So what sort of thing should I say?  Or rather, what sort of attitude should I have using such common words?

Our verse above verse gives us the answer.  John the Baptist said, “I am not.”

“And this is the record of John, when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, Who art thou?

And he confessed, and denied not; but confessed, I am not the Christ.

And they asked him, What then? Art thou Elias? And he saith, I am not. Art thou that prophet? And he answered, No.”  (John 1.19-21)

Think about it, who are we... really?  Jesus called John the Baptist “the greatest” and it was John who said in John 3:30 “He must increase, but I must decrease.”

He is the “I AM” and me...?  I am... not!  “For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God.” (Colossians 3:3)