If you've talked to me much about my faith, you probably already know that there are a few topics that immediately excite me. They speak to something very deep and old within me. When I am open my mouth to speak of them, immediately a tear jumps to my eyes and my heart fills with passion.
One of these topics is redemption. The idea that no matter who or where you are, or how deep a pit of sin and filth you have made for yourself there is always, Always, ALWAYS hope. God is always interested and capable of restoring you. That there really is grace enough for the whole human race. But today's post is not about redemption - well I guess it is in some sense, I mean every story that involves broken people and God is going to involve some aspect of redemption. But it narrowly focuses on one aspect of God's redemptive work - the assignment of a new name.
You see there is a theme through out scripture of God re-naming people. For example, God re-names Abram to Abraham, Sarai to Sarah, Jacob to Isreal, Simon to Peter, Saul to Paul. These changes are not simply superficial they reflect something deeper - Abram (a fatherless old man married to a barren widow) renamed Abraham (the father of many nations), Jacob (a liar, thief and coward, with a name that means supplanter) renamed Isreal (God wrestler - nothing cowardly about it!).
And what is so profoundly moving about this theme to me, is that in most cases God calls us by our new name PRIOR to our change. He calls Abram, Abraham long before nations are born from his line. He calls Gideon "mighty man of valor" while he is still the scrawny runt of his family. He calls Simon, Peter (or Rock) while he is still an emotional, impulsive and unstable man.
Why? Why does He do this?
He does this, because He knows who we really are. He is not thrown off by our sins, hurts or mistakes. He is not confused about where we have been or what we were made for. He knows. HE KNOWS! And He speaks our name so that we will know. Because we don't know who we really are. We are totally thrown off by our sins, hurts and mistakes. We are confused about where we have been and what we are made for.
Revelation 2:17 says this:
He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes I will give some of the hidden manna. I will also give him a white stone with new name written on it, known only to him who receives it. "
This passage is speaking to us. God will give us a new name, a name that reflects who you really are. A name that tells you who you really are. It is not based on where you have been. It is not based on how you have failed. It is not based on a realistic assessment of where you are now. My name (your name) is who I was born to be and who, with God's grace, I will be again.
So the question is... do you know your name?
I believe I know what my name is. And I cannot wait, to hear him call it.
