"I've Got to be Me"

With an adaptive title, “I’ve Gotta be Me”, Sammy Davis, Jr., popularized this song from the Broadway musical, “Golden Rainbow”, in 1968.  This became one of his signature songs though the Broadway musical from which it was drawn ran only one year.

The title, “I’ve Got to be Me”, captures one of the most basic of all theological and philosophical truths--you can't be anyone else.  But how many human ills stem from the fact persons do not want to be themselves?  Theologically, this puts people in a predicament.  Because Christ died for who you are, not for who you aren’t.

This problem can be quickly fixed, basic as it is, if persons could see the virtue of being themselves.  A story highlights this need.  It tells of humankind being given opportunity to become someone else by simply casting their shoes upon a huge pile and selecting another pair that would represent a different life style.  One by one they came back, chastened but wiser, seeking their original pair of shoes.

While this mythical story points out the need to be who we are, at the same time it points out the desire to be different inwardly.  That’s what Jesus Christ died to make available—essentially a fresh start.  Through acceptance of His death for our “sin”, all those things that make it so hard to accept ourselves, a great exchange takes place.  He takes upon Himself our sin, we receive His righteousness—“right standing” before God, self, and our fellows (See Romans 5:8 & 18).

Now “I’ve Got to be Me” makes sense.  Through Christ, one becomes a person loved of God, accepted by herself or himself, with potential for others to love.  This doesn’t mean all things about you are perfect, but you are now on a track where God can perfect you.  Psalm 138:8 speaks directly to this issue, “The Lord will perfect that which concerns me” in personality and destiny.

This perfecting process will take the rest of your life and though sometimes painful and frequently difficult, it is good and bearable because “God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted (tested) beyond what you are able, but with the temptation (test) will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it” (I Corinthians 10:13b).

Let me tell you where this “testing” process will lead.  It is “to be conformed to the image of His Son (Jesus), that He (Jesus) might be the firstborn among many brethren” (Romans 8:29b).  Not bad company.