NAMESAKE Larry W Peebles July 10, 2020 20.25
A namesake is a person, geographic location, building or entity that has the same name or that is named after another person or entity. For example, our son carries the first name of my favorite uncle, and his middle name is the same as my middle name. Our daughter’s middle name is my wife’s first name. Both our children are our namesake. It is customary for the children to receive the last name (family name) as well, although the woman may change her last name to that of her husband after marriage. Although I asked my mother several times, I never understood who I was named after.
My wife and I are friends with a couple who were life-long educators in the public school system where we lived many years ago. When they both retired from education, the school district named a new elementary school after them. This was quite an honor, well deserved for their lifetime devotion to educating the youth of that county. To carry the name of a respected person or family is an honor, as is having someone or something (such as a school building) named after oneself.
Although I do not hear it much these days, I remember as a juvenile being told to “Behave like I was carrying the family name”. In other words, with the family name came a certain responsibility to represent it well. For the sake of the family name, I was told I should think, act and behave in a manner which would honor or promote the reputation of the family. I should never do anything that would tarnish the reputation of the family name.
Individualism, the “I did it my way/I gotta be me/it’s all about me/selfie” thinking of recent years has diminished the namesake thinking. Today it would be considered outdated and old school. However, without being bound by tradition and prior generations, I do believe this topic should be revisited. There is a larger spiritual picture here we need to see, from two approaches.
First, the Bible says we are all orphans, adopted into the family of God. We come into the family by faith in Jesus Christ.
John 1:12- “But to all who did receive Him [Jesus], who believed in his name, He gave the right to become children of God.”
Galatians 3:26- “For in Christ Jesus you are all sons of God, through faith.”
Galatians 4:5-7- “Because you are sons, God has sent the Spirit of His Son into our hearts crying ‘Abba, Father [Daddy]’. So you are no longer a slave [to sin], but a son, and if a son, then an heir through God.”
Romans 8:14-19- “For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry ‘Abba Father’. The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs- heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him. For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us.”
When we confess Jesus as our personal Lord and Savior, and acknowledge that He is the Son of God crucified and raised from the dead to pay for our sins (Romans 10:9), our sins are forgiven and we are saved. We are then reconciled to God, and welcomed into the family of God as His children. Our past is forgiven and forgotten, and we come up out of the waters of baptism as a new creation. When we believe in His name, we receive His name. As His children, we become heirs to His kingdom and His promises. When we carry His name, we take on the responsibility of being His namesake. With the authority He has given us, and His power behind us, we are to take on this life as His representatives until we achieve the final victory over death itself—just as Jesus did.
Revelation 2:17- “To the one who is victorious, I will give some of the hidden manna. I will also give that person a white stone with a new name written on it, known only to the one who receives it.” Our true name-the name given to us by our Creator- will be made known to us. The white stone may have its significance in a Roman custom of awarding white stones to the victors of athletic games. The winner’s name was inscribed on the stone, and it was his ticket to the awards banquet. The Lord is preparing a banquet for His children, His bride, which is the church. (Revelation 19:6-9). I would relish knowing that name now, because I suspect it is the key to my very purpose in life-the reason for which I was created. If that is true, we can easily see from God’s perspective the importance of the name we carry.
Secondly, there are things God does and there are things God wants us to do in His name, or for the sake of His name. For the sake of His name He forgives (Psalms 25:11). He also guides us into righteousness (Psalm 23:3); leads us out of the traps of the enemy (Psalm 31:3); and helps and delivers us (Psalm 79:9). He is good to us and loves us (Psalm 109:21), and He preserves our life (Psalm 143:11). One example of this occurred when King Asa was outnumbered two to one against a mighty Ethiopian army. He prayed to God “In your name we have come against this vast army…do not let man prevail against you.” (2 Chronicles 14:11). God struck down the advancing enemy, and handed Asa the victory along with great plunder. God is famous for these qualities of His character, but this list is not exhaustive. These are merely examples of the generous acts He does because of His name.
There are also things He wants us to do in His name, or by using His name. In times past, proclamations or acts done “in the name of the king” carried absolute authority and weight. Following are three scriptures that make the point. John 14:13- “I will do whatever you ask in my name [Jesus], so that the Son may bring glory to the Father.” When we pray in the name of Jesus, He answers because it brings glory to the Father. John 16:24- “Until now you have not asked for anything in my [Jesus] name. Ask and you will receive, and your joy will be complete.” When we pray in the name of Jesus, He answers because it is His good pleasure to give His children complete joy. Colossians 3:17- “Whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus.” This makes it clear we are to do everything in His name. Every act and every word must be said or done with the understanding that we are representing the King of Kings in the matter. We carry His name, and we carry His authority. We are to speak in his name. In our lives, we must adhere to the high standard He has set, as we would never want to disgrace His good name. Our speech, our work, our thoughts, and our actions and love toward others must bear witness to His great name.
Psalm 115:1 says- “Not to us, O Lord, not to us, but to your name be the glory.” Jesus, who is the Light of the World, said- “In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds, and glorify your Father in heaven.” (Matthew 5:16). The son, who is an heir of a king, has no higher ambition than to bring honor and glory to the king and the kingdom.
