What's in a Name?

Exodus 20:1 & 7 And God spoke all these words: " Thou shalt not take the name of the LORD thy God in vain; for the LORD will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain” KJV. I really didn’t understand that word “vain”. Growing up, I heard and thought that this commandment meant that we weren’t supposed to use God’s or Jesus’ name as an expletive swear word. But later in life, I had it explained in context, that the word ”vain” actually means “to take the name of God or Christ lightly". Webster’s confirms this with the definition of vain as: Without value, without force, fruitless, empty. Act 4:10-12 explains: “Let it be known to you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead, by Him this man stands here before you whole. This is the 'stone which was rejected by you builders, which has become the chief cornerstone. Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved."

Think about this: Our Father in Heaven, Creator of everything and all that has breath, who loves us, sent "God the Son" as His Plan of Salvation, that we who accept Jesus Christ as our personal Lord and Savior, may be forgiven of our sins against God, be adopted into the Kingdom of God as Children, and receive eternal life in Heaven forever, instead of spending eternity in Hell. Do we take this redemption and the Redeemer lightly? We’re not just talking about those who say “G.D. this or J.C. that”. Jesus did not die on the Cross for anything that He did, because He was innocent, sinless & blameless. Out of love, mercy and grace, Christ died on that cross for my sins, and your sins, and the sins of anyone who accepts the free gift and believes. Knowing what we are saved from hell, how can we take our salvation and our God, who saved us, in an unholy and casual manner? 1 Corinthians 6:9-11 explains to us further: “Do you not know that the wicked will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor male prostitutes nor homosexual offenders nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. And that is what some of you were. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God. We pray to God, through Christ, in the Spirit."

Galatians 6:7-9a “Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows.” Justice comes (Rom. 2:16), when we all appear in front of the Judgment seat of Christ Rom (14:10), where every knee shall bow Rom 14:11). Romans 2:6-8 God "will give to each person according to what he has done." To those who by persistence in doing good seek glory, honor and immortality, he will give eternal life. But for those who are self-seeking and who reject the truth and follow evil, there will be wrath and anger. Where you & I spend eternity is serious, and the name of God or Christ should never be taken lightly; not out of fear, but out of gratitude for their love, mercy & grace towards us. Hebrews12:2 teaches us:” Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.” How can a true Child of God, and a Brother or Sister in Christ take such a Salvation so lightly? How can we take the name of God (our Creator) and the name of Jesus Christ (our Lord & Savior) in vain? We are in a world that is literally falling apart around us, because they do not take the God of Heaven & Earth seriously. Believe it or not, He is real and in control. We need to put our total trust in Christ and follow Him. As Pilgrims (resident foreigners as Ambassadors for Christ), walk with the Lord confidently on this journey, come what may because those who do not honor and respect the name and authority of Almighty God will surely be telling you to “lighten up”.

God has given us his Holy Word, the Bible, and the Holy Spirit in our heart to guide our lives on “paths of righteousness, for His purposes. John 20:31 tells us that “These are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.” Next to “knowing”, is knowing where to find out. Godly knowledge through the Holy Scriptures only comes through spending time reading the Word of God and in prayer and meditation over them. Philosophy & Psychology without Spirituality is just enticing words, vain intellectual accent, without fulfillment. Through the Bible, God speaks to us and imparts spiritual wisdom for living a life that walks in Christ, serving the Lord’s purposes in our life built up in Him, and having true life in His name. Don’t take it lightly.

In Christ, Brian