C.S. Lewis says we never actually receive our true personality until we receive Christ.

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“There are no real personalities apart from God. Until you have given up your self to Him you will not have a real self. Sameness is to be found most among the most ‘natural’ men, not among those who surrender to Christ. How monotonously alike all the great tyrants and conquerers have been; how gloriously different are the saints.” (C.S. Lewis, Mere Christianity).

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In a novel or a play, non-entities are brought into being when the Author introduces them into the story.  Yet even after he walks onto the stage he remains of no consequence to the story until he is assigned with personality, motives, desires, and purpose.  Apart from accepting the Author’s intention for us we will wander about the stage, bumping into props and generally getting in the way of the story in progress.

As I see it, there are at least three things necessary in the process of becoming our true selves: The first is a voluntary surrender to the wisdom and will of the Author. Characters cannot invent themselves! This is what Lucifer tried to do. With a life borrowed from the Creator, he set about trying to destroy the very drama God was writing. (Thankfully, in the wisdom and sovereignty of the Author, the story went through a massive re-write to undo this tragic turn).

The second necessity is a growing awareness of the Author’s good intentions not only towards my character, but towards everyone on the stage. Apart from trusting His kind heart none will have the courage to face the twists and subtleties of the story as it unfolds in our lives. We’re all faced with daily challenges, and each challenge must be met with a confidence that the Author knows what he’s doing, and where he is going.

And finally, we must have an understanding of the story our Author is writing: it’s a kingdom tale that reveals his intention to restore all that has been lost by the fall. Such an understanding gives us the context to move forward with joyful confidence. God’s story will end only when he can pen the closing words, “And they all lived happily ever after.” Until that moment, the story isn’t finished.