Authenticity refers to the proven fact that something is legitimate or
real. Your authentic self goes beyond what you do for a living, what
possessions you own, or who you are to someone. It is who you are
at your deepest core.
It is about being true to yourself through your thoughts, words, and
actions, and having all of these areas match each other. If it was a
math equation, it doesn’t matter how many variations the equation
offers, the answer will be the same.
The definition of Christ-likeness is a person who has qualities like
Jesus Christ. Christ-likeness has the character traits of, kindness,
compassion, forgiveness, sincerity, caring, loving, committed
gentleness, patience, self-control, humbleness, and prayerfulness.
Becoming Christlike is the result of surrendering to God. Romans
8:29 says, “For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be
conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn
among many brethren.” This means that we were predestined to be
conformed to the likeness of Jesus. Making us Christlike is God’s
work, and He will see it through, to the end. Romans 12:12 tells us
that worship involves a total self-dedication to God. We give God, our
body and mind, as a living sacrifice.
As a child of God, your authentication will always be tested. No
matter what life may throw your way, the outcome must be the same.
You must always present yourself as His child. When life throws
indifference at you, you react with compassion. When life throws
harshness at you, you should react with gentleness. When anger is
thrown your way, you return meekness. When presented with
disrespect, you present reverence. When deception is served to you
on a silver platter, you serve truthfulness. When the curve ball of
impurity is thrown at you, you hit the ball with virtue.
The test for authenticity is often measured by applying some kind of
force or foreign substance to that which is being tested. In testing
gold for its authenticity, tests are done. Determining whether
something is made of real gold can be accomplished in a number of
ways, but the most simplest way is to rub the gold on an unglazed
ceramic dish. The color of the mark left on the plate will determine the
authenticity of the gold. Real gold will leave a gold mark. Fake gold
will leave a black mark. There are other tests to authenticate gold.
Any signs of discoloration, indicates that its fake gold. If gold is too
shiny, too yellow, the gold is impure. The purity hallmark test, test
whether the gold is twenty-four carats, eighteen carats, or fourteen
carats. You should see “999” or “24k” somewhere on the gold. If it’s
less than “10k” then it’s not pure gold.
As a Christian, you are real, that’s one hundred percent, or you are fake,
because ninety-nine and a half percent, won’t do. You are either
authentic or you are not. You can fool man, but you can’t fool God.
Sometimes in our lives, God will often put us through the authenticity
test. We will be put through these tests several times and some of us,
daily. How we react to these tests is another matter. What mark will
you leave when tested? Like gold, will you be “24k”, “18k” or “14k”.
Remember anything less than “10k” is fake. If we are an authentic
Christian, what will the mark that we leave, look like? I hope that it is
the true mark of Christ.