When a baby is born, parents often search in books or on computer websites for name ideas. Choosing a baby’s name usually takes a while, but when parents decide on a name, they can explain where the name originated and the reason for their choice.
Some parents, like mine, wait until they meet their baby to choose a name. My parents tell me that they decided to name me Krystal after my birth, based on my eyes. My mother recanted that my eyes were like crystals, which prompted her to choose my name, but she wanted a distinct spelling.
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Often, parents choose names that “sound good,” or they don’t want a name because they knew someone with that name, and perhaps that person did not have a good reputation. It is fun to look up the Biblical meaning of a name on the computer. According to my internet search, Krystal means “Follower of Christ,” and Rene’ signifies “born again.”
In the Bible days, choosing names was very important. Sometimes, God told parents to name their child a specific name as He did with John the Baptist (Luke 1:13 KJV) and Jesus. There are also several examples in the Bible when God changed a person’s birth name later in life. The name change from God altered the person’s destiny and life trajectory.
God Changed Names in the Bible
God changed Abram to Abraham when he was 99 years old. He simultaneously changed Abram’s wife’s name from Sarai to Sarah (Genesis 17). God promised that they would have a baby in the next year and that Abraham would be the “father of nations” and Sarah would be the “mother of nations.”
Later in Genesis, there is a story of Jacob, who was born as the youngest twin, with his brother Esau being the oldest. The Bible states that Jacob grasped Esau’s heel when the twins were born. Jacob’s name indicates that he was following behind and on Esau’s heel. His name also means “supplanter,” someone who purposefully takes over or takes someone else’s place. In Jacob’s case, he was very skilled at using trickery to get what he wanted. One of the things he wanted was to be considered the firstborn.
The firstborn child was supposed to inherit the birthright blessings, and Jacob was determined to take it from Esau. In Genesis, Jacob convinced Esau to exchange the birthright for a food bowl. Jacob spends his life as a trickster. He deceived his father, brother, and Uncle until he ultimately had a name-changing experience with God. After wrestling all night, God changed Jacob’s name to Isreal.
There is Power in a Name Change
Names are spoken to us several times a day and an innumerable number of times throughout our lives. Names are words, and spoken words have power. Whatever we decide to call our children, whether a name or nickname, should be chosen with care and with the child’s future and destiny in mind.
Sometimes, we have nicknames given to us when we were younger that are different from our names. Nicknames can be given based on personalities, actions, talents, or other characteristics. As adults, childhood nicknames may no longer be appropriate and can lead to embarrassment or humiliation later in life. We should think of the unintended consequences of nicknames for our children. It is important to have a good name.
Sometimes, our decisions and our path in adulthood can cause us to be “labeled” with unpleasant names. Being labeled “thief, murderer, liar, cheater,” or other unpleasantries is prevalent in our society.
We must not allow others to label us and change our names. God says we are more than a conqueror. He says we are well-able, strong, wise, and blessed. Sometimes, it can be hard for others to see us as God sees us, especially if we have suffered a public misstep. God can give us a new name and set our lives on a better trajectory. We must walk in the light of His love. All we need to do is come to Him by faith in His Son, Jesus Christ.
God’s Name Change
In the book of Revelations, which is the last book of the Bible, God promises to give us a new name. God wants to exchange our life for a better one, and we can have it when we accept, believe, and confess His son Jesus.
As we live this life right now, God wants us to know that He does not call us by the names that the “world” calls us. If we receive the gift of salvation given to us by faith and trust in His son, Jesus, then we have a right to be called new names such as a friend, beloved, renewed, children, and royalty.
We can rise above the names and labels of our past when we accept the grace and forgiveness that the life, burial, and resurrection of Jesus offers. The most notable name that God can call us is “forgiven” and “Christian.” When He calls me a Christian, He is giving me His name.
As Christians, we must refuse to carry the shame and condemnation that the enemy brings and remind him that our past is now under the blood of Jesus Christ. We must believe that God accepts us. Jesus washed away our sins, and despite our failures, He gave us His holiness and forgiveness. The Apostle Paul explained that we all have to strive toward the future as followers of Christ.
Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.
Philippians 3: 13-14 NIV
A Christian’s Simple Prayer Of Thanks
Our Heavenly Father waits to give each of us a new name. He wants to call us “forgiven” and “Christian,” but he wants to give each of us a distinct new name one day. As Christians, when we take the name of Christ, He gives us His righteousness and lives in our hearts. Let’s bow our heads in prayer to thank God for changing our names and blessing us.
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