Name Not Important

Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name. (Phil 2:9)

Call a person anything, surely he or she will answer, right? No, actually people can get quite insulted if you address them by any name other than the expected one. Some children are even taught that 'Hey you!' doesn't cut it, and should be replaced by something more polite along with how to give a quick introduction by name. Many who call into our office do not give names before their questions, and it can be tough to get a name out of them. We live in a world where identity theft is too common, and people rightly get protective of their name. Even God is protective of His great name, insisting in the Ten Commandments that it not be taken in vain. His Son will one day return with a name above every name. So, yes, a name is very important and precious to us.

Mostly our names come from our parents. We may have nicknames applied in school or at work, but even the government recognizes us by our given name. The social security number by which we are taxed and tracked has not quite taken over completely just yet. What makes the forthcoming mark of the beast so terrifying to us is that it may well be nothing but a number chosen for us, right? Well, not exactly, the mark of the beast is made terrifying by who and what is behind it, and what it will be used for when the evil times come. In the meantime, we have a name and a title to which we can cling in times of trouble: Jesus the Christ.

In a world of famous names who know nothing of you or me, not even our names, there is One with a hugely famous name who knows His sheep by name. Should we come to that final extremity of age and disease or injury wherein we cannot even remember our name, He will. At our passing from this current world, we will not arrive anonymously into the heavenly realm but will be known by the Lord of All Creation... by name.

Sometimes we who are given to a certain anxious unworthy feeling in this life might say that our name is unimportant. This is false: if Jesus knows my name, then it is important. Blessed be the great name of our Lord Jesus!

And thank you, Lord, for knowing me by name!
Bucky