Revelation 2:17 – He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes, I will give some of the hidden manna. I will also give him a white stone with a new name written on it, known only to him who receives it. (NIV)
1 John 3:2 – Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what we will be is not made known. But we know that when he appears, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as He is. (NIV)
My grandson spent last summer in the Navy Reserve. At the end of the training, his family and I went to the graduating ceremony. When we arrived, we asked for him by his first name, and no one knew whom we meant. Apparently men were known only by their family names. It was strange hearing him identified only by his last name.
Each of us is known by different names, according to our relationships. As teenagers, we often spoke of ourselves as "me, myself, and I". Over the years, I have been known as son, father, husband, boss, "the Rev", the minister, Father Harold, and Padre (and perhaps by other names I don't want to know). I felt most honoured when called Pastor, for this emphasized my role as guide, one appointed (as we were at ordination in those days) to the "cure of souls".
Many people spend much time, perhaps in great frustration, trying to know who they are. Actually, I don't yet know who I really am. What excites me is the thought that I believe my name is written in the Lamb's book of life. My real name is written in stone, and only God and I will ever know it! The assurance of knowing that I am known of God, a secret between Him and me, is all I need to know. In this intimate relationship with Him, I am comfortable not knowing who I am — for now! The wonder of it all is that each and every one of us can enjoy this same intimate relationship with God!
Prayer: Father, as You have known us since we were in our mother's womb, so You know us today. We rejoice in knowing that we shall, one day, know You even better when we shall see You as You are. Thank You for this blessed assurance. Amen.
Editor's Note: Rev. Harold Moddle passed away on Thursday morning, December 8, 2005, of a heart attack while in hospital recovering from a three-week struggle with an extremely serious bout of pneumonia. His devotional contributions to the PCCWeb Daily, drawn from the depth and breadth of his experience in serving Christ and His people, have been full of insight, have reflected a clear and warm love for Jesus Christ and a desire to lead others into a saving faith in Him, and have evidenced a desire for all of us to live faithfully in obedient and joyful service to Him. Harold had been the minister at Alderwood United Church in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, for many years.
