​A Name of Promise

Isaiah 62:2 The nations will see your righteousness, and all kings your glory; you will be called by a new name that the mouth of the Lord will bestow.
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Luke 24:47 and repentance and forgiveness of sins will be preached in his name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.
 
A name is a powerful word. We may pay little attention to a group of people in conversation, but if one person in that group speaks your name, you are instantly aware. Your name matters because it is you.
   We get this from God. His name is holy to him. His name must be holy to us. When we speak, “God” we need to know we speak the almighty authority over our lives. He is not the “man upstairs” or some other minimal words too many people use to refer to God. He is Creator, Love, Joy and Hope. He is Alpha and Omega, and is some 20 more names define the LORD’s essence.
   God has also given us three names in Scripture to point us to his promise of eternal redemption. The first is Israel. God changed Jacob’s name to Israel because he wanted Jacob and his descendants – the nation Israel – to possess the hope of God’s promise that they will ultimately prevail through their turbulent history: Genesis 32:28 “Your name will no longer be Jacob, but Israel, because you have struggled with God and with men and have overcome.” When God’s faithful people said, “We are Israel.” they expectantly awaited God’s power to overcome their enemies.
   In a like manner God named his Son “Jesus” to assure us we have the sure hope of a redeemed life.  “Jesus” means “savior”. “Jesus” is the focal point of our eternal life. Each time you speak the Name, you must be mindful God has acted to give you the way to overcome sin and death. “Jesus” is God’s grace to redeem the cost of your sin.  
    “Jerusalem” means, “possession of peace”. “Jerusalem”, too, directs faithful minds to the New Creation. Sadly, the Old Testament history is a tragic story of violence from within and without the city. We still think of conflict when we say “Jerusalem” today. But then, we must remember “Jerusalem” points to the hope of a new day when God’s people Israel will have struggled and won, when they have overcome the world that has so strongly, hatefully opposed them.
   The scripture is a summation of God’s will to redeem the name of Jerusalem with the power of the name of Jesus, brought forth to the world through the overcoming nation Israel. As forgiveness of sins will be preached in his name to all nations, one day the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, (will come) down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Now the dwelling of God is with men, and he will live with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. (Revelation 21:2-3)
   God promises the very character of Jerusalem and of the world will completely reflect God’s righteous peace attained through Jesus’ righteousness.
   Are you named “Christian”? Then know you are of Christ. By grace you are intimately related to Jesus. Through Jesus the Father has given you a new life. May your life display Jesus has given you the power to overcome sin, so you will forever live in Jerusalem.
 
Prayer: Thank you, God Almighty for fulfilling your Promise to give me Jesus to overcome sin, so I will dwell in the new Jerusalem forever. Amen.