2 Corinthians 5:17 NLT Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!

[06/17/2024; iPhone 14 ProMax]

Cardiff, Wales. Another short trip, but one that carried a different kind of weight. Not because of the distance, but because of what it represented. Travel has a way of placing you somewhere new physically, but sometimes it also reveals something new internally. This trip wasn’t just about seeing a new city; it became about understanding identity in a deeper way. Who I am when I’m not in familiar places. Who I am when routines are stripped away. Who I am when it’s just me, moving through somewhere unknown.  

While living in England, I drove to Cambridge station, where I caught a train, transferred at Swindon, and eventually arrived in Cardiff Wales, my final destination. As soon as I stepped off the train, reality hit quickly: my phone was about to die. I immediately started looking for a power bank, found one at a nearby mall, and got just enough charge to get moving again. Even in that small, almost inconvenient moment I noticed during my walk how the city carries a mix of history and openness, something you feel almost immediately. 

One of my first stops was Cardiff Castle, right in the heart of the city. Standing within walls that have existed for centuries, it was hard not to think about time, how much has changed, how much has been rebuilt, and how things are constantly being renewed. Before entering, there was a booth outside the castle grounds that displayed family name lineages, where surnames originated and how far back they could be traced.

Out of curiosity, and honestly as a bit of a joke, I decided to look mine up. With both of my parents being Hispanic, I didn’t expect to find anything in the UK history books. But surprisingly, my last name appeared, traced back to 10th Century France during the Medieval period. Now, whether that connection is actually tied to me or just coincidence, I’m not entirely sure. I’ve never known anyone outside of my immediate family with my last name. But in that moment, it sparked something deeper: a reflection on identity. Not just where we come from, but who we truly are. 

2 Corinthians 5:17 speaks to something deeper than external change. It speaks to identity.  

Have you ever taken a personality test? Maybe a better question is: how many have you taken? I know I have taken plenty. 

There are many kinds out there, some lighthearted, others deeply analytical. Whichever ones you may have taken” Identity Tests” are having a big moment, some have even transitioned into full on books. They’re now a standard part of job interviews, premarital counseling, everyday conversation, and college courses and for good reason, they do have their place and can be useful tools. At their best, these assessments give language to how we think, relate, interact, understand and empathize with each other. 

But at their very worst, they just allow you to justify bad behavior and tell you that your personality defines your identity. They can even quietly redefine how we see ourselves. Maybe you have heard sayings like: 

I am because I am. 

The way to know myself is to look inside myself. 

I’m a “fill in the blank” and there’s nothing I can do about it. 

The test says I’m bad at discernment, so I guess I’m just bad at discernment. 

If you’ve ever failed or doubted or let someone down, you’ll see the problem with this kind of thinking. As humans, we are finite, flawed, and constantly changing. So if we define our identity by human-made parameters, we build it on something unstable and we will have a flawed view of our identity. We need someone greater than ourselves, someone who is all-knowing and perfect to tell us who we really are. Someone all-knowing and unchanging. 

I am who God says I am. 

The way to know myself is to know God. 

Travel can sometimes make you feel like a different person. You’re in a new place, around new people, moving through unfamiliar streets. But the truth is, in Christ, that “newness” isn’t temporary. It’s not tied to a location or a moment, it’s permanent. 

This trip reminded me that my identity isn’t built on where I am, what I’m doing, what my last name is, or how others see me. It’s rooted in Christ. This is true for you too! The old self, defined by past mistakes, doubts, or insecurities, no longer has authority. 

Sometimes it takes stepping outside of your normal environment to really see that clearly. Even in a new city or a familiar place, that truth remains unchanged: 2 Corinthians 5:17 NLT “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone. The new is here.“

From there I spent time walking through the city center and eventually made my way toward Cardiff Bay. The waterfront brought a completely different energy, open space, calm water, and room to slow down. I grabbed some food, took in the view, and let the moment breathe. 

Like most trips, there were things to see and places to go, but what stood out more were the in-between moments. The quiet pauses. The time to think. The space to reflect. 

One of the biggest things travel continues to teach me is that identity isn’t something you find in places, it’s something you carry with you. 

Cardiff didn’t give me a new identity. It reminded me of the one I already have in Christ. 

Being a “new creation” doesn’t mean everything instantly feels different. But it does mean that God sees you differently. It means your past no longer defines you. It means you move forward with purpose, even when you’re unsure of what’s ahead. 

Wherever you go, whether it’s across the world or just outside your routine, you don’t leave that identity behind. 

You walk in it. 

Jesus is KING. 

As you reflect this week, ask yourself: 

We are made in the image of God. How can you allow the truth that you are made in the image of God to shape the foundation of your identity? 

Where are you still defining yourself by your past instead of by who God says you are? 

Please share in the comments! 

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