What's in a Name?

Is Your Name Here?  I read on the billboard as we sped past on our trip recently.  Suddenly I heard myself singing, "Is my name written there, on the page bright and  fair..." words from an old hymn that surfaced from my memory bank.

The Bible has much to say about the eternal record of the redeemed in which the names of those who have trusted in Jesus are written.  Revelation 3:5 says, "He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels."  Verse 4 says, "...and they shall walk with me in white, for they are worthy."

In Revelation 2:17 we read, "...I...will give him a white stone, and in the stone a new name written, which no man knoweth saving he that receiveth it." This name reflects our identity that is assigned in Christ.

Much thought and consideration by new parents is put into choosing a name for their child.  They usually want something distinctive that will set their child apart from others, even honoring them with a name passed down through the family from an esteemed relative.  Those who want an informal name might choose something trendy, cute, or faddish.  Often whole generations can be identified by the prominence of certain names, popular at their time of birth.

Then there is the throwback to names of the past, a kind of re-generation of names, you might say.  We are seeing a lot of that now, with names like Olivia, Henry, Annabelle, Emily, or Alexander becoming popular.  One thing parents want  (or should want ) is to avoid  a name that will draw ridicule or disfavor toward their child.  Some names are even illegal to name a child.  Silly names like the names of fruit or sport cars are discouraged.  Biblical names are timeless and can  impart a sense of dignity and/or beauty to the recipient.

There is no doubt that names are important.  They set a tone, a perception, and will follow us through life.  Many find themselves trying to live up to their name, or to live down their name!  As important as our earthly names are, there is one Name that is most important of all:  The eternal Name of Jesus, one that transcends time.  When we become Christians, we take on His name. 

Like the billboard, our names are read by all men.  If we bear the name of Christ, we have a responsibility to honor that Name. There is a saying that we are the only Bible some people will ever read.  Paul says in II Corinthians 3:2-3, "Ye are our epistle written in our hearts, known and read of all men: Forasmuch as ye are manifestly declared to be the epistle of Christ ministered by us, written not with ink, but with the Spirit of the living God; not in tables of stone, but in fleshy tables of the heart."  Changed lives are evidence of our new name!