Which Crest Are You Wearing?

As a lifelong soccer fan, I still find myself planning weekends around matches. Soccer isn’t a novelty in the U.S. anymore—it’s everywhere. With the World Cup returning to our backyard soon, the excitement is only growing. Americans aren’t just watching; they’re learning the language of the game and catching the passion behind it.
That buzz hit me in an unexpected place recently: wandering the aisles of Target. Mixed in with everyday clothing were national team soccer shirts. Naturally, I looked for an England shirt.

I found one—and then hesitated.
It looked right at first glance, but the crest was wrong. Instead of the iconic three lions, there was only one. Same colors. Same feel. But not the real thing.

That detail mattered more than I expected. A crest isn’t decoration; it’s identity. England’s three lions carry centuries of history and meaning. Reducing them felt like cheapening something that was meant to be worn with pride. Yes, the shirt cost less—but why wear an imitation when the real thing is easily available?

Standing there, it struck me: this isn’t just a soccer issue. It’s a human one.

We often settle for imitation identities—definitions built on titles, possessions, platforms, or approval. They’re convenient and cost less upfront, but they carry less weight and offer less freedom.

Scripture offers something better. We are God’s workmanship, fearfully and wonderfully made—crafted with intention, not mass-produced. That is an identity worth claiming, one that doesn’t fade with performance or trend.

As nations prepare to rally around their colors and crests in the upcoming World Cup, it’s worth asking a more personal question:

What crest are you wearing?

An imitation that’s easy to wear—or the real thing, given with purpose and meaning?

Because the authentic shirt is already there.
And it was never meant to be worn with just one lion.