Your new nickname

Up until about eight years old, I was known by my family and friends as “Kenny”.  I didn’t choose that name, but that’s what everyone called me.  We moved to a new state near the end of 2nd grade and while signing up at my new school, the secretary asked what name I would go by.  Before my mom could answer, I shot out “Ken”.  I don’t remember why I made the switch, but I was quite certain that’s what I wanted to be called.  So from then on, I was known by everyone as “Ken”.

Names are a bit of a strange phenomenon, aren’t they?  This is the noise I want you to make to get my attention.  However, they are more than just sounds to us.  We also attach specific meaning to those sounds.  Sometimes the meaning is in a given birth name, with the hope that our child will live up to that name’s significance.  Other times, we take on a new form of our name, like I did, to signify a new chapter in life.  Then, there are also nicknames – not normally self-given, but typically given to us by someone else.  Nicknames are often tied to a specific characteristic or a life event.

In the Old Testament, after Gideon tore down a popular alter to the god Baal, the Baal worshippers wanted to kill him.  Instead, they were convinced by Gideon’s father that Baal should get his own revenge if he’s as powerful as they claimed.  Grudgingly, the mob accepted the argument, but from then on, they stopped calling him Gideon.  Instead they called him “Jerubbaal”, which meant “let Baal contend with him”.

We see similar instances of nicknames in the New Testament.  Jesus stopped referring to Simon, instead calling him Peter.  This name means “Rock” and it’s clear that is the attitude/role Peter took on from that moment forward.  You probably don’t recognize the name “Joseph of Cyprus”, but if you’ve read the book of Acts, you’ve met Barnabas.  “Barnabas” means “Son of encouragement” – I’m certain everyone loved talking with him as he lived up to that reputation!

Then, in the last book of the Bible, we find Jesus giving rewards to those who overcome in this life, to those who conquer life’s challenges by living their lives the way God design humanity to live.  To the church in Pergamum, Jesus said this:

Revelation 2:13
I know where you live – where Satan’s throne is.  Yet you are holding on to My name and did not deny your faith in Me.

They lived in a tough town that wanted nothing to do with God.  In fact, many were directly opposed to God and His designs.  But Jesus encouraged them to hold on to My name and not deny your faith in Me.  For those who persevere like this, there is an eternal reward:

Revelation 2:17
To the one who conquers, I will give some of the hidden manna.  I will also give him a white stone, and on the stone a new name is inscribed that no one knows except the one who receives it.

Tony Evans explained these special rewards like this:

Manna was the supernatural food God sent from heaven to sustain Israel in the wilderness.  This manna is hidden in that it is not available to all.  It represents exclusive sustenance and kingdom fellowship with God for Christians who …[hold on to Jesus and do not deny Him]…In the Roman world, a white stone was used as an admission ticket.  A white stone with someone’s name on it was a personalized, all-access pass.  This image, then reinforces the idea of exclusive, personal fellowship with God as the conquering Christian’s reward. 

If you earn this reward…Your name, written on the white stone, is a nickname that will be given to you by Jesus.  On top of that, you will be the only one who knows what the name is and what it means.  How personal is that?  How incredibly special and intimate to be named by the Creator of everything and the King of Kings!

This name will be an honor, based upon the message of your life.  Each of us has a unique story of struggle, and how God helped us to both overcome and conquer.  Our nicknames will reflect our stories, but thinking about earning this reward leaves us with a couple of questions:

What will my name be? or, perhaps more important, What would I like my name to be?

So live bravely, conquer your selfishness, and overcome sin’s challenges…and look forward to the day Jesus calls us by a special name and into an exclusive fellowship with Him.

Keep Pressing,
Ken