Who Will Remember Your Name?

Your name is important to God. When Christ returns, will you have a good name before God? Will your name be in God's book of remembrance?

Simply mention the Pope and everyone knows who you are talking about.

The Pope came to America recently. Headlines announced his activities. Crowds greeted him everywhere he went. From many distant areas people were bused to Washington D.C. and New York City to see him.

But residents of the city of Boston, where I work, were disappointed that the Pope did not visit them. The reason for their disappointment was that so many of the awful child abuse cases and cover-ups occurred here.

There was a deep desire by some in Boston to have representatives of those who had suffered from sexual abuse over many years meet with the Pope. At another location, however, the Pope did acknowledge "the pain which the church in America has experienced as a result of the sexual abuse of minors."

A special 'Book of Remembrance' was constructed by Bostonian calligrapher Jan Boyd. He intends it to be a reminder to the Vatican, Catholic priests and people at large to always remember the suffering of the thousands of persons who were sexually abused by irresponsible priests.

This 11 x 14 inch, 40-page book contains a hand painted list of Boston's known clergy-abuse victims. Though it does not feature all 10,000 plus US victims, it does contain the 1,500 from all of New England. Like the Vietnam Veteran's Memorial in Washington, D.C. this book of names was created as a permanent reminder of human suffering.

A person's name is important even to God, our spiritual Father. He changed the name of the biblical Abram to Abraham, saying, "… for I have made you a father of many nations …" (Genesis 17:5Neither shall thy name any more be called Abram, but thy name shall be Abraham; for a father of many nations have I made thee.
See All...). The name of Jacob, Abraham's grandson, was changed to Israel—with God saying, "For you have struggled with God and with men, and have prevailed" (Genesis 32:28And he said, Thy name shall be called no more Jacob, but Israel: for as a prince hast thou power with God and with men, and hast prevailed.
See All...).

Then there was Saul who was also called Paul (Acts 13:9Then Saul, (who also is called Paul,) filled with the Holy Ghost, set his eyes on him,
See All...) and who from that time forward was referred to in ScriptureThe divinely inspired writings of both the Old and New Testaments. The term Scripture is used in the New Testament to refer to both the Hebrew Bible (Luke 24:44-45) and the new apostolic writings accepted as inspired (2 Peter 3:16; 1 Timothy 5:18). as Paul.

Yes, names are important to God because names can carry important meanings. There is God the Father and Jesus the Son. Their names identify different personages and the roles They fulfill. The Hebrew word for MessiahA Hebrew word meaning literally "anointed one," synonymous with the Greek word christos, translated Christ. "In ancient Israel both persons and things consecrated to sacred purposes were anointed by having oil poured over them ... The Israelites did not think of crowning a king but of anointing him when he was enthroned ... [The future Messiah] is to destroy the world powers in an act of judgment, deliver Israel from her enemies, and restore her as a nation. The Messiah is the King of this future kingdom to whose political and religious domination the other nations will yield. His mission is the redemption of Israel and His dominion is universal. This is the clear picture of the Messiah in practically all of the OT passages which refer to Him" (The Zondervan Pictorial Bible Dictionary, "Messiah").—another name of Jesus—means the Anointed One. In the Greek language the name Christos carries the same meaning, the Anointed One. It describes our Savior who came to earth to die for the sins of all humanity.

In Acts 3:22For Moses truly said unto the fathers, A prophet shall the Lord your God raise up unto you of your brethren, like unto me; him shall ye hear in all things whatsoever he shall say unto you.
See All... Jesus Christ is identified with a specific Old TestamentThose books that make up the Hebrew Bible generally accepted by Christians, Jews and to some extent Muslims. It contains a threefold division: the Law (the five books of Moses), the Prophets and the Writings. prophecy in which "Moses truly said to the fathers, 'The LORD your God will raise up for you a Prophet like me from your brethren. Him you shall hear in all things, whatever He says to you.'" Here Jesus is also identified as a prophet.

The last book of the BibleThe books (Greek, "biblia" ) that are acknowledged as canonical (authoritative) by the early Christian Church. It includes both the books of the ancient Hebrew prophets and those of the apostolic witnesses to Jesus Christ. names Jesus Christ as the world's future King: "The kingdoms of this world have become the kingdoms of our Lord and of His Christ, and He shall reign for ever and ever!" (RevelationThe disclosure of God's Word and plan to mankind. In the Bible this refers to making obscure things clear; bringing hidden matters to light; causing especially called individuals to see, hear, perceive, know and understand the things of God; the unveiling of biblical mysteries (Romans 16:25). 11:15And the seventh angel sounded; and there were great voices in heaven, saying, The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ; and he shall reign for ever and ever.
See All...).

Further along, RevelationThe disclosure of God's Word and plan to mankind. In the Bible this refers to making obscure things clear; bringing hidden matters to light; causing especially called individuals to see, hear, perceive, know and understand the things of God; the unveiling of biblical mysteries (Romans 16:25). 19:11-16 [11] And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war.
[12] His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on his head were many crowns; and he had a name written, that no man knew, but he himself.
[13] And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of GodThe books (Greek, "biblia" ) that are acknowledged as canonical (authoritative) by the early Christian Church. It includes both the books of the ancient Hebrew prophets and those of the apostolic witnesses to Jesus Christ..
[14] And the armies which were in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean.
[15] And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God.
[16] And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS.

See All... says He is called "Faithful and True" and that He has a name that no one knows but Himself. Later yet He is described in verse 13 as The Word of GodThe books (Greek, "biblia" ) that are acknowledged as canonical (authoritative) by the early Christian Church. It includes both the books of the ancient Hebrew prophets and those of the apostolic witnesses to Jesus Christ.. Verse 16 adds that He carries the title, King of Kings and Lord of Lords. By His titles, names and descriptions we can know something about how He will arrive and what He will do at His Second Coming—an event considerably more noteworthy than a visit by a Pope.

Our ever-living Father in heaven wants our names to be written in the Book of Life. And Jesus personally has promised: "He who overcomes [his sinful human nature] shall be clothed in white garments, and I will not blot out his name from the Book of Life: but I will confess his name before My Father and before His angels" (RevelationThe disclosure of God's Word and plan to mankind. In the Bible this refers to making obscure things clear; bringing hidden matters to light; causing especially called individuals to see, hear, perceive, know and understand the things of God; the unveiling of biblical mysteries (Romans 16:25). 3:5He 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.
See All...).

Returning to the theme of this commentary, that our names are important to God, consider the words of the prophet Malachi. "Then those who feared the LORD spoke to one another, and the Lord listened and heard them; so a book of remembrance was written before Him for those who fear the LORD and who meditate on His name" (Malachi 3:16Then they that feared the LORD spake often one to another: and the LORD hearkened, and heard it, and a book of remembrance was written before him for them that feared the LORD, and that thought upon his name.
See All..., emphasis added).    

How about your name? When Christ returns, will you have a good name before God? Will your name be in God's book of remembrance?