Of Names, Kingdoms and Enuchs

Following my quiet moments with God in His Word and in prayer, on my mother’s birthday almost 2 years ago, these were some of my journal thoughts that blessed morning. I have added a few my thoughts as I have pondered these truths over time, so this is loooooong! Beware!

I’ve been fascinated recently by the concept and practice of naming buildings, places and streets after people, whether living or dead. I think it’s fascinating to have a street named after oneself. If you do name something after me that would be splendid! Give me a Big SMILE there. : )

In my new neighbourhood, most or probably all of our streets have been named after the earliest settlers or influential people who were instrumental in developing the neighbourhood. I had a brief encounter with one of the earliest neighbourhood settlers about 2 months ago. This old man said that he knew my parents very well and I was just as curious as to how and why I had never met him before. So I asked his name, and he proudly stated his name and then it hit me. “Oh, Sir! That’s the name of the street by your house!” So I went home was told that he practically got the neighbourhood landowners and builders together so that facilities like water, electricity and roads could be provided. Aah……

Anyhoo, so these people’s names will be remembered as long as the streets or buildings exist or are functional. Future generations will come and see names engraved on a wall plaque, a signpost or on a memorial and ask, “Who is/was this man/woman? Why was this place named after him/her?” and that will lead to storytelling time about the contributions the person made to society.

But… this is not forever. You ask me why? A building can be destroyed by fire, flood, an earthquake, war or some other disaster. People can desert a town or render a building or street non-functional. It has happened countless times before. I always marvel at the pre-colonial great empires such as Songhai, Mali and Ghana of the Saharan desert and the Babylon Empire of biblical times. What about the 7 churches in Revelations in the Bible? What has become of them today? Dead. You only read about them in history books, like the one my dad had me read about Sundiata and the Mali Empire. As a kid, I was so fascinated by Sundiata’s rise from a helpless boy to a brave warrior.

But at the last day, names, heroes and kingdoms wouldn’t matter anymore, because earthly memorials will be permanently destroyed to make way for the new heaven and earth that will be forever and ever. The Heroes of heroes, Jesus Christ will be our principal focus, passion and worship.

It’s astonishing that God promises a category of people, eunuchs, an everlasting name, a memorial within His temple. Hear the Word of the LORD, as the Old Testament prophets would say:

4 “To the eunuchs who keep my Sabbaths,
who choose what pleases me
and hold fast to my covenant-
5 to them I will give within my temple
and its wall
a memorial and a name
better than sons and daughters;
I will give them an everlasting name
That will not be cut off. ”
Isaiah 56:4-5 (NIV)

I believe this promise is not for now and here only, but particularly for everlasting heaven. Can you imagine God setting up an eternal memorial in heaven just for you? Now when the body of Christ gathers and people ask about such and such memorial, wouldn’t it be amazing to hear your name among the honoured people?

And why would this name be better than sons and daughters? I must say that I find it almost impossible to comprehend fully. One of the privileges of procreation is the gift of passing on the family name to the next generation. Unfortunately, eunuchs don’t have that privilege of passing on the family name because they’ve renounced marriage and thus child bearing for the sake of the Gospel.

But God is saying no, no… this is not the end of you. Don’t say, “I’m only a dry tree,” Isaiah 56:3. I’ll give you a name better than sons and daughters.

In heaven, our earthly names really wouldn’t matter because God is going to give us new names! And eunuchs get everlasting memorials to go with it! Even with all this, the most important Name is HIS. And I want to know that Name that is Above All names.

How infinite is the wisdom of God!

Originally written on November 21, 2007,
but revised over several months!

God bless ya,
Lady Akofa.