Dear....
You are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church.
Matthew 16:18
This was the reading from our Daily Bread(Thurs 3 Apr 2014). It reminds one of not just the important symbolism of names, for Christ renamed Simon to Cephas( aka Peter) both meaning "rock." But transformation to living up to that reality took not just time, but the empowerment of Christ.
He brought him to Jesus. Jesus looked at him and said, “You are Simon the son of John. You shall be called Cephas” (which means Peter).
John 1:42
My father did give me a meaningful name. The Chinese character 永贤 denotes perseverance and integrity. But for many years till my first few years of working, I always got the 贤 written as 番！The latter being the first word for "tomato."
And did I live a squishy life like that of a tomato, full of promise yet easily squashed?
To some extent, yes as a deep sense of insecurity permeates my life, especially when it comes to financial well being.
Did the realization that I had mis-written the last character of my name brought forth an overnight transformation of my emotional made?
A name change some are inclined to believe will lead to a change in one's fortunes. I am not sure about that but I know It takes more than a name change for a realignment of one's heart leading to a transformation unto Christlikeness.
"在洪水中，我要安静，知你是神"
This is a line from a very beautiful worship song "安静“ ( Be still ). See youtube link below
http://youtu.be/-dQELbDA7wU
Interestingly, silly as it seems, I just realized my surname 洪 is "red" as in the "Red Sea," of Moses' famous crossing. It was an expression of God's grace to the fleeing Israelites, yet of His Sovereignty over nature when He parted the swirling waters of the Red Sea.
Yet did Moses and the Israelites ever hesitated or had creeping doubts in their hearts even as they hastened across the dry channel enclosed by the fearsome roaring waters that was miraculously kept at bay?
What about us professed followers of Christ? I know I often struggle to take that step of faith. And I continue to wrestle with my fears even as I walk the paths that God has pointed me to.
Names are interesting. The literati through the ages took great care in selecting the apt name for their offsprings. The illiterate were not as well placed, and in my parents' generation when the typical brood in the family was a dime a dozen, names were ascribed in relation to one's trade ( eg Ah Te, for the butcher's son, or Hei Tua, for Charcoal boy or simply Ah Kow, in line with the stray dog or Ah Ngeow for the feline.)
My wife and I did take time and effort to select meaningful names for both my children. But it was from a worldly context rather than a God led manner for both my children were born before I truly committed my life to follow Christ our Lord.
But God is always graceful. And I am grateful that on reflection, much as it was never intended on my part, that the initials of my daughter is SALT, just like salt to the world though she is still very much a work in progress. And the initials of my son is AARR, to resonate the roar of Christ, the Lion of Judah.
“Before I formed you in the womb I knew you,
and before you were born I consecrated you;
I appointed you a prophet to the nations.”
Jeremiah 1:5
A fertile imagination? Probably but with God, every moment is a joy filled discovery, of His tender loving care upon each and everyone of us He gave the precious breath of life to.
It is not about deciding on the right name, for some who possibly should consider naming themselves "Manna" instead of "Noodle," as the HK actor by the surname "Cheng" used to call himself before changing it to "Ekin"
But rather, it is up to us to want to live out fully the name He gave us all "Christian" - follower of Christ.
God blesses
Eng Hieang
3 April 2014
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