NAMED!

Folks, don’t get your hopes too high. No, it ain’t what you think it is. Yours faithfully hasn’t decided to toss in the towel (kick the bucket?) and go for it. Nope. Not at all. Nay. De nada. Not by a long shot. Pas du tout. Nothing doing. Überhaupt nicht. (Etc.)

In fact, later today, I’ve gotta be a “resource person” at a meeting of single seminary students to talk about ministry opportunities for those who are such as I. I can’t go do this kind of stuff the day before, can I? So, rest easy.

I was attending an engagement—a big event in Indian circles—of a cousin’s daughter yesterday (her last name: Kuruvilla). And as I walk in the door of Hackberry Creek Country Club, I do a double take. There was this sign in the front hallway announcing the event and its room venue. Was this all a sinister plot to get me betrothed? Before I went into an apoplectic fit, seeing all my cousins collapse into laughter at the sign (and everyone and their brothers-in-law had to take a picture of the sign—I’ll never live this down), good sense—thankfully!–prevailed. The Kuruvilla lassie’s fiancé has the last name Abraham. Hence “Abraham-Kuruvilla engagement.”

Thank heavens for hyphens. I escaped, by the skin of my teeth! (Appropriate for a dermatologist!)

But seriously, I actually even know several Abraham Kuruvillas. Some of them are physicians as well. As far as I am able to discern, no one is a theologian-dermatologist. Or single. I have that niche all to my own self.

Not that we should care too much about our names.

Some boast in chariots
and some in horses,
But we will boast in the name
of the LORD, our God.
Psalm 20:7

That’s the Name worth caring about. That’s the Name we should be concerned about. No other name will bring success or fulfillment or salvation.

And there is salvation in no one else;
for there is no other name under heaven
that has been given among men
by which we must be saved.
Acts 4:12

And for that name we live, and move, and have our being.

I will glorify Your name forever.
Bless the LORD, O my soul,
And all that is within me,
bless His holy name.
Psalm 86:12; 103:1

That’s the Name that will be over every other name.

At the name of Jesus,
every knee will bow,
of those who are in heaven
and on earth and under the earth,
and that every tongue will confess
that Jesus Christ is Lord,
to the glory of God the Father.
Philippians 2:10–11

And amazingly, those who believe in Christ will get His name.

To the one who overcomes,
to him I will give … a new name.
Revelation 2:17

One day, at the end of time …

There will no longer be any curse;
and the throne of God
and of the Lamb will be in it,
and His bond-servants will serve Him;
they will see His face,
and His name
will be on their foreheads.
Revelation 22:3–4

Paradoxically, because we bear His name, ours will never be lost.

Rejoice that your names
are recorded in heaven.
Luke 10:20

These recorded names—Abrahams and Kuruvillas and all the rest—are permanently there, in heaven, for ever.

He who overcomes
will thus be clothed
in white garments;
and I will not erase his name
from the book of life,
and I will confess his name
before My Father
and before His angels.
Revelation 3:5

Named! For eternity!