When your name is said in your community, what do you think comes to a person’s mind? What about among your family and closest friends, those who know you best, who know both your good and bad? What about with God? Keep in mind, He is a Spirit that is present everywhere all the time. Meaning, He has seen everything we have ever done and heard everything we have ever spoken. He also knows everything that has ever passed through our mind: all images, thoughts and motives. Based on that, what if someone came to God in heaven and mentioned your name to Him, what do you think would come to His mind?
The Bible verse clearly communicates that a person’s name has significance because it is a reflection of their life. And it states that a good name is to be chosen over riches. What does riches mean? It refers to a person’s strong focus on increased income, possessions, influence and all the different things that money can do at the expense of a good name. But what is at the heart of the pursuit of riches? Self. We want, what we want, when we want it. This reveals our perspective on life. First, we are the most important person in our life and primarily focus on what has a direct or indirect benefit on us. Second, we are only focused on the present or future of this life.
What does the proverb mean by desiring a “good name”? It does not primarily refer to a good name among people, because that would lead to pleasing others in order to be accepted by them. It indicates desiring a good name before God and acceptance by Him. This is the wiser and to be sought out above everything else in life.
How does one achieve a good name? It starts with admitting your life has been primarily about you, which has led to disobedience against God and the disrespect of others. It is lifting your eyes off yourself and up toward God’s only Son, Jesus, who died and rose again. It is calling upon God in faith, asking Him to help change your ways, and maybe even going to others to make things right whom you have wronged. It is God pouring His Spirit within you and giving you His character and power to live differently. And according to His Word, your life will start to become marked by a new set of qualities: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, gentleness, faithfulness and self-control.
The new life God will bring upon us will have three amazing promises. First, we will receive a new name. Yes, we will keep our previous name, but in being changed by God our name will become “good” by Him, thereby becoming new. Second, Jesus promises that our new name is written down in a book of life He possesses. Third, He promises that one day in the future, beyond this life, He will confess our new name before God the Father in heaven and all the angels.
If you continue living as you are, the God who knows all things will judge you accordingly and the present and eternal consequences that come will be justified. But if you desire a good name and favor with God above the temporal things of this life, and turn to Him with all your heart, you will escape His judgment and receive a new name that one day will be voiced among the angels.
A prayer for you - “Lord God, I pray you will help me to examine my ways. Have I been only living for myself and this life? Have I disrespected others and disobeyed You in the pursuit of my interests? Lift my eyes toward You. You are King of Kings and Lord of Lords. Save me. Change me. Give me a new name that I might live honorably before You. In Jesus name. Amen.”
How does this relate to Easter? Religious and political corruption were the seedbed of Jesus’ death. The story of the cross of Christ is the most egregious form of corruption in world history. One of Jesus’ leading disciples rightly and publicly, accused the Jewish religious leaders along with some members of the public, of their illegal actions, forcefully stating “. . . you denied the Holy and Righteous One . . . you killed the Author of life . . .” (Acts 3:14,15)
Jesus was not a victim of this corruption by any means though. Being God, He knew the thoughts of His enemies, who believed they were secretly plotting out their conspiracy against Him. He knew every detail of their plans in advance and possessed evidence of it all. For He was the most intelligent, skilled and wisest man who ever lived.
How did Jesus respond? Did He call His followers to rise and defend Him? Did He flex His supernatural powers and strike dead all His accusers with a word or motion of His hand? First, Jesus’ perspective was not from the view of temporal, earthly or mortal understanding. He saw events from the view of heaven, eternity and the immoral condition of the human heart. Second, He chose the greatest weapon in His divine arsenal to fight with – truth. The Scriptures have a synonym for this, the “sword of His mouth.” Read the story of Jesus’ betrayal, arrest, trial, torture and death. Whenever corruption reared its ugly head, Jesus humbly and skillfully wielded the sword of truth. Third, He knew His divine and invisible Father had a plan that was being carefully carried out under His watchful eye. He entrusted His very life to His all-powerful and loving Father.
His followers though, were confused and disillusioned. They did not understand. On Friday morning, while still alive, Jesus’ body was nailed to a wooden cross. Hours later He died. Then He was buried where His lifeless body lay sealed in a tomb. “It’s over”, they thought. It did not make sense. On Saturday He still lay dead in a tomb. Had the corrupt practices of men defeated the King of Kings? Was evil and lawless scheming awarded victory over the Son of God? Absolutely nothing made sense . . . until Sunday morning.
As the sun slowly inched above the landscape and its beams shot across the horizon, some women came to the tomb of their Teacher weighed down with grief. As they approached, the ground shook violently. Then suddenly, an angelic being appeared sitting atop of Jesus’ tomb. It had been rolled away! The angel told the women, “[Jesus] is not here, for he has risen . . . Come, see the place where he lay” (Matthew 28:6).
He had risen! The corrupt schemes of men had been defeated, and the religious and political leaders were left powerless to cover up history’s greatest miracle.
In every nation on earth, in nearly every group or organization known to man, lawlessness, deceit and wickedness is present at some level. How shall we live in times like these? Just like Jesus. Let us fight lies with His sword of truth. Immorality with His Spirit of holiness. Anger with His love. Arrogance with His humility. Human cleverness with heaven’s wisdom. Worldly urgency with Godly patience.
A prayer for you - “Lord God, open our eyes and let us see there is nothing new among the children of men and women. Injustice and corruption have existed since nearly the beginning of time, but through Jesus’ death and resurrection we can overcome. Let us rejoice in the face of darkness because you have risen. Let us be willing to lay down our lives in this battle with evil, while taking up the weapons of truth, holiness and love. In Jesus name. Amen.”
As President Joe Biden begins his leadership of the United States, he has made calls for peace and unity in the country. Former President Donald Trump issued similar thoughts in some of his outgoing speeches. The desire for such a thing is warranted after all our nation has been through in the last year, from riots in major cities to chaos at the capital. I agree whole heartedly! Words are a start. But, where do we go from there? It is easy to say, but hard to do.
I always look to Jesus and the Bible in times like this, which gives us a command to live by that is relevant, “Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good” (Romans 12:21).
Jesus illustrated how to do this. He spent much of His three-year ministry doing good to the people of His nation. He fed the poor, healed the sick, raised the dead, cast out demons, stilled dangerous weather, forgave sins and taught people how to live godly lives. He was hailed by the people and built an incredible movement rapidly. Lives were being changed day by day. Jesus and His work was great for the nation. Yet, the leaders constantly condemned Him. He was viewed as a threat. They were continually scheming to stop His ministry and eventually they came to their most desperate measure – murder. They conspired to kill Him and succeeded (but only for three days).
How did Jesus respond to this evil? He never returned evil with evil, instead He returned evil with good. While He was dying unjustly on His cross, He prayed for those who put Him there saying, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do” (Luke 23:34).
Jesus did not respond with bitter, angry words demonizing his opponents. Rather, in a calm and peaceful tone, He spoke truthful and graciously. When they splattered evil upon Him, He patiently responded showing undeserved grace.
Did this change a nation? Yes! Three days later Jesus rose from the dead, then a short time after that, His followers went across the nation speaking about His life and teachings. Multitudes were transformed and began to overcome evil with good as Jesus did. Did it vanquish the nation of evil? No. Jesus did not promise that. Through His resurrection, He overcame evil. He triumphed over it. And when we turn from our sin and trust in Him with all our heart, that resurrection power comes to live within us. Therein lays the answer. With Christ in us, evil does not have to control our hearts. Instead, we can be controlled by the love of Christ.
What is the opposite of this? There is a statement in the Bible that says if we return evil for evil instead of good, then evil will perpetually live in our house. We will never be rid of it because of constantly encouraging it. In our natural humanness our instinct is to fight back. We feel justified in doing so because of the evil done to us. Consequently, we use all the levers of power and influence to retaliate. In such cases, evil remains in control, and around and around we go.
Through the Spirit of Christ working in us let us not bow to the temptation to speak evil of those whom we oppose. Let us be truthful, with wisdom and kindness, not flattering. Forgiveness is a choice and command. Through the risen Lord, forgive those who have harmed you and continue to do so, refusing to acknowledge their wrong. Do not allow the dark, sharp and bony fingers of evil to grip your heart.
Yes, we can work toward a more peaceful nation, but it can only be done through the transforming power of Christ in us. Only He has the power to enable us to overcome evil with good. Turn to the merciful Savior and invite Him to change you.
A prayer for you - “Lord God, You are the only hope for our nation. You, working in the hearts of people. Rid us of selfishness, pride and a spirit of revenge and retaliation. Let us return good to the evil thrown at us. Help us when we are weak. Help us to love and forgive. In Jesus name. Amen.”
