What’s my name?

I received a word from God today during the praise and worship.  I thought about sharing it with the church but decided not to because I remember hearing from others about the Sunday we missed on New Years.  Basically the word I received was nearly the same message preached on New Years, and although I received it intellectually before, I did not receive it spiritually until today.  Since the church had already received this word 2 months ago, I decided this word of revelation was intended for me, not the church.

The word of revelation pertains to Revelations 2:17:
“…  And I will give to each one a white stone, and on the stone will be engraved a new name that no one knows except the one who receives it.”

When I studied Revelations last summer, I thought it odd that the Lord would have a secret name for me.  Our bible study interpreted this as his intimate connection to us, kind of like a pet name that you might call your spouse.  But I still questioned, “why wouldn’t he just call me by my name, Nate?  Isn’t that personal and intimate enough?”

But today God revealed something to me.  Nate is not my eternal name.  Nate is my earthly name, given to me by my earthly parents.  But my heavenly father has a name for me that he gave me before the creation of the world.  (Ephesians 1:4, Jeremiah 1:5, Psalm 139:13-18)  God looks forward to the day when he can share with me the name he has chosen for me, just as I was excited when my children first demonstrated to me that they knew the names I had given to them.

But the revelation was more than that.  The revelation was that I am not restrained or confined by my earthly name or identity.  God sees me entirely according to how he wants to see me.  When I think of my name, Nate, I think of a host of things that partially define me.  Personality, characteristics, things I have learned and done.   Likes and dislikes.   Roles and responsibilities.   Funny things, embarrassing things.   Current relationships, past relationships.  Achievements, failures.  Things I think other people may think about me when they think of my name.   32 years of accumulated definition, some of it good, some of it bad.  BUT GOD DOESN’T THINK OF ANY OF THESE THINGS WHEN HE THINKS OF MY HEAVENLY NAME.  He only thinks of the child he created perfectly at the beginning of time according to his perfect love and nature, who has been made perfect again by his gift of grace, and he anxiously awaits my return to his presence.

It doesn’t matter how I see myself, or how others see me, or what mud or polish may be attached to my earthly name.  God’s name and view of me is altogether different and founded on nothing but his love.  I look forward to discovering God’s name for me, I know it will be a perfect fit.

-Nate (at least, that’s what you can call me)