It had happened the moment she said “I do.” Instantly, her name changed. She had inherited her husband’s name, belongings, and being.
Anna smiled at the remembrance of the day she had gone from a Lawson to a Newman. Then her eyes moved back to the paper on her lap. The paper she had unthinkingly signed with her maiden name again. Would she never remember?
She’d been adjusting to her new name in other ways too. Her whole lifestyle had changed when she got married–she’d gone from being homeless, stealing or begging for each meal, to living with incredible wealth. Yet she’d forget that she now had her husband’s riches and fall back into her old street ways more often than she’d like to admit. Her failures loomed before her as mountains sometimes. She was so unworthy…
“You’re worthy because your my wife.” Anna remembered her husband’s precious words after she’d confessed to him her failures yet again. He saw her as worthy, not because of what she did, but because she was his wife!
And little by little, Anna was learning to live like the new, dearly loved woman she now was. She was learning to live in the truth of who she now was because of all her husband had bestowed on her. She was learning to live out her new name.
“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.” 2 Corinthians 5:17 (ESV)
“I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.” Galatians 2:20 (ESV)
(see: Changing Her Name – Christian Perspective)
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The above story rings true for many brides today. Brides do usually take on their new husband's name, assets, and more.
When I got married, over 50 years ago, my family wasn't poor. But we weren't rich either. And at the time, I had been living on my own for a year, trying to find my way in life.
It wasn't easy. Not depending on my parents anymore. They did help me a bit. But I was basically on my own and I have to say, it had been a fairly good experience for me.
When I met my husband though, it was a quick (too quick actually) courtship and a simple ceremony in my parent's beautiful yard.
Suddenly, like the woman in the story, I was privy to his name and his income, instead of me having to live on my barely minimum wage job.
So I can identify with the story above. But, I want to speak more of name changes, and not material assets that new brides get when they marry.
biblically speaking, of course,
Did you know that one day, in heaven, we will go through another name change? Consider this:
He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the hidden manna, and will give him a white stone, and in the stone a new name written, which no man knoweth saving he that receiveth it. Revelation 2:17
And in chapter 3, this:
Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go no more out: and I will write upon him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, which is new Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven from my God: and I will write upon him my new name. Revelation 3:12
As exciting as our wedding may have been, when we took on the name and assets of our new husbands, just think of how much more exciting it will be in heaven. To inherit our place as sons and daughters of the 'Most High God!'
It is indeed something to look forward to. To have him wipe away all of our tears, in a place where there will be no more death or sorrow or pain. Revelation 21:4
It's hard to even imagine. In a world filled with hate, anger, and death. Where our tears could fill a river at times.
Someday, God is going to take all that away and give us a new name!
What a day that will be!
Thanks for coming by today, Friends. Have a blessed day!
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