Be somebody or be somebody’s fool

And the great dragon was thrown down, the serpent of old who is called the devil and Satan, who deceives the whole world; he was thrown down to the earth, and his angels were thrown down with him. -Revelation 12:9 (NASB)

Perhaps one of the most bizarre videos I’ve ever seen in my life was a VHS copy of 1980s megastar Mr. T’s “Be Somebody or Be Somebody’s Fool” (1984), a collection of cheesy and cringe-worthy skits and setups for life lessons he would impart to viewers. There were musical numbers, ’80s musicians, and some really terrible acting.

Some of the lessons were not executed well, but despite that, a few of the segments taught young viewers about things like how to recoup from a fall, respecting your mother, and to not cave to peer pressure.

(If you think you can stand it, you can see the whole video on YouTube.)

If there were one consistent theme I’d say ran through the whole video, it would be that one should live with awareness and discernment of one’s situation, and one’s sense of self.

For true believers, discernment when dealing with the world in each moment, and sense of identity in Christ, are crucial to navigating life. Without them, we’re just dinghies being tossed about by the wind and waves of life, trying to find the next thing that might give guidance and meaning to our lives…only to be left wanting again.

Indeed, I can testify that without a sense of identity in Christ, you can be duped by the ruler of this world. I was duped for 40 years, seeking but never finding…till Jesus opened my eyes. Become an agent and be somebody in Christ, or be the Deceiver’s fool.