What's In A Name?
January 14, 2014
It's funny sometimes how the LORD speaks to us. For me it's usually when I'm doing every day things like dishes or taking a shower. I suppose those are times when I'm not focused on a million other things and God can get my attention much easier.
This morning was one of those times. As I was taking my shower this morning, The LORD brought the Titanic to mind. We all know how the story goes that an official from the White Star Line openly made the statement "God Himself couldn't sink the Titanic". And so He did.
I was thinking that it would be cruel for God to allow such a tragedy since innocent people died that fateful night, many were Christians. Then the bible verse in which Paul is speaking to the Philippians in which he states "To live is Christ, to die is gain". (Phil 1:21) Gain what? Gain Christ of course, and heavenly rewards for our service to Him. It's never cruel of God to take His children home with Him, where they live far and beyond what this lowly world has to offer them. We only think of it as a cruel because we have an earthly perspective, not a heavenly one.
Then I started thinking about what brought this whole thing to pass. It was the remark, mocking God that He isn't "powerful enough" to sink a man made vessel. What an audacious claim! A claim of such magnitude deserves a response, don't you think? And that's what they got. They got God's attention.
In the old testament, there are plenty of stories about God defending His Holy name. In Ezekiel, He says "I had concern for My Holy name, which the house of Israel had profaned among the nations where they went. Therefore say to the house of Israel, Thus says the Lord GOD: I do not do this for your sake, O house of Israel, but for My holy name's sake, which you have profaned among the nations wherever you went. And I will sanctify My great name, which has been profaned among the nations, which you have profaned in their midst; and the nations shall know that I am the LORD". (Ezekiel 36:21-23) God felt it was important enough to include it in the ten commandments, and to not only include it but put it third in the line up, right after not having any other God's but Him and not worshiping Idols (false gods). It's definitely something He expects His children to follow.
Clearly God does not tolerate anyone trying to discredit His Great and Holy name. Israel was punished. God brought war to their doorstep. He handed them over to their enemies. Is that where we are today as a nation? I think we've crossed over a threshold years ago when we lost our fear of God. Remember: "Fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom". (Psalm 111:10 & Proverbs 9:10). When we stop fearing God, we become egocentric, thinking we are something special. We bring God down in our minds, and build ourselves up. This is a recipe for disaster as an individual or as a nation.
When the nation of Israel (God's chosen people) did it, He brought war. Are we in America headed for war on our own doorstep? Many would present the argument that "yes we are on the brink something major happening here at home". I don't know for sure but I do know that God protects His name. His name is Holy, His name alone stands above all names. In speaking of Jesus, God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth." (Philippeans 2:9-10).
With all this knowledge, yet we still give God doublespeak. We call on His power to heal us, protect us, and deliver us, in His Holy Name, then we turn around and use His exact same name as a cuss word. We don't give it another thought. Because God doesn't go around striking us down with bolts of lightning the minute we sin, we are lulled into a comfortable delusion that we are "okay" with what we are doing and that it mus be "cool" with God as well.
We serve a mighty and powerful God. Just because we are living in the age of grace and God has poured out His spirit on us and doesn't go around punishing us at the drop of a hat, does not give us the right to misuse His name. If the bible says Fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, then we must be counted as fools because we have clearly lost that somewhere along the way.
In closing, lets try to keep in mind that God is a Holy God, therefore His name is a holy name. What an awesome New Year's resolution that would be to keep Holy the name of the LORD in all that we speak. How can we expect to lead others to Christ if we ourselves are not setting ourselves apart from the world. As Christians we are held to higher standards, not to be self righteous, as some were in bible days and got chastised by Jesus, but if we truly love God as we say we do, then this should be an easy task for us to keep His name Holy and preserve it, as He has commanded us to.
May the LORD God watch over you this day, bless you and provide all you need, keep you safe, and guide you in His infinite wisdom. AMEN
It's funny sometimes how the LORD speaks to us. For me it's usually when I'm doing every day things like dishes or taking a shower. I suppose those are times when I'm not focused on a million other things and God can get my attention much easier.
This morning was one of those times. As I was taking my shower this morning, The LORD brought the Titanic to mind. We all know how the story goes that an official from the White Star Line openly made the statement "God Himself couldn't sink the Titanic". And so He did.
I was thinking that it would be cruel for God to allow such a tragedy since innocent people died that fateful night, many were Christians. Then the bible verse in which Paul is speaking to the Philippians in which he states "To live is Christ, to die is gain". (Phil 1:21) Gain what? Gain Christ of course, and heavenly rewards for our service to Him. It's never cruel of God to take His children home with Him, where they live far and beyond what this lowly world has to offer them. We only think of it as a cruel because we have an earthly perspective, not a heavenly one.
Then I started thinking about what brought this whole thing to pass. It was the remark, mocking God that He isn't "powerful enough" to sink a man made vessel. What an audacious claim! A claim of such magnitude deserves a response, don't you think? And that's what they got. They got God's attention.
In the old testament, there are plenty of stories about God defending His Holy name. In Ezekiel, He says "I had concern for My Holy name, which the house of Israel had profaned among the nations where they went. Therefore say to the house of Israel, Thus says the Lord GOD: I do not do this for your sake, O house of Israel, but for My holy name's sake, which you have profaned among the nations wherever you went. And I will sanctify My great name, which has been profaned among the nations, which you have profaned in their midst; and the nations shall know that I am the LORD". (Ezekiel 36:21-23) God felt it was important enough to include it in the ten commandments, and to not only include it but put it third in the line up, right after not having any other God's but Him and not worshiping Idols (false gods). It's definitely something He expects His children to follow.
Clearly God does not tolerate anyone trying to discredit His Great and Holy name. Israel was punished. God brought war to their doorstep. He handed them over to their enemies. Is that where we are today as a nation? I think we've crossed over a threshold years ago when we lost our fear of God. Remember: "Fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom". (Psalm 111:10 & Proverbs 9:10). When we stop fearing God, we become egocentric, thinking we are something special. We bring God down in our minds, and build ourselves up. This is a recipe for disaster as an individual or as a nation.
When the nation of Israel (God's chosen people) did it, He brought war. Are we in America headed for war on our own doorstep? Many would present the argument that "yes we are on the brink something major happening here at home". I don't know for sure but I do know that God protects His name. His name is Holy, His name alone stands above all names. In speaking of Jesus, God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth." (Philippeans 2:9-10).
With all this knowledge, yet we still give God doublespeak. We call on His power to heal us, protect us, and deliver us, in His Holy Name, then we turn around and use His exact same name as a cuss word. We don't give it another thought. Because God doesn't go around striking us down with bolts of lightning the minute we sin, we are lulled into a comfortable delusion that we are "okay" with what we are doing and that it mus be "cool" with God as well.
We serve a mighty and powerful God. Just because we are living in the age of grace and God has poured out His spirit on us and doesn't go around punishing us at the drop of a hat, does not give us the right to misuse His name. If the bible says Fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, then we must be counted as fools because we have clearly lost that somewhere along the way.
In closing, lets try to keep in mind that God is a Holy God, therefore His name is a holy name. What an awesome New Year's resolution that would be to keep Holy the name of the LORD in all that we speak. How can we expect to lead others to Christ if we ourselves are not setting ourselves apart from the world. As Christians we are held to higher standards, not to be self righteous, as some were in bible days and got chastised by Jesus, but if we truly love God as we say we do, then this should be an easy task for us to keep His name Holy and preserve it, as He has commanded us to.
May the LORD God watch over you this day, bless you and provide all you need, keep you safe, and guide you in His infinite wisdom. AMEN
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