Originally published Sunday, 01 March 2015.
Back in 1980something I went through a phase when, almost every Friday night, I would hang out with friends at a roller skating rink. Roller skates… wow. Do you remember those? They had four wheels, and a fancy stopper positioned on the front. We would ride them over wooden floors with fancy black lights overhead making our fluorescent clothing glow. And it didn’t matter how fast we skated around the rink, our hair never moved. We teased it high on our heads with pride and then sprayed it with a whole can of Aqua Net.
One night while sitting on the bench during a couples skate, a popular boy skated over to me, grabbed my hand, and pulled me up and out on to the floor. He even knew my name. I was in shock that he actually knew who I was, let alone speak my name. At the end of the night I felt like I could take on the world.
I was an innocent bleached-blond-haired teenager who felt like she was “somebody” with the mention of her name. After all these years, many things have changed. Innocence has faded due to a degree earned at the school of hard knocks. (Unfortunately, running out of Aqua Net isn’t the biggest tragedy I’ve faced.) I am still bleached blond, however, it’s much tamer now and I try to stay up on the roots. There is one significant commonality between who I am today and who I used to be: I still have a need to be known. I want to hear my name. The difference is I have a desire that God would be the One to speak it.
Over the weekend, while spending some time in the word, the following verse tugged at my heart.
He restores my soul; He leads me in the paths of righteousness for His name’s sake.
-Psalm 23:3
He is there leading each one of us down our own unique paths of righteousness. They aren’t always easy to follow. Each one tends to be narrow and the terrain is sometimes very challenging, but I have some life-giving news for you: When we live a life glorifying His name, the paths lead to Him. And when we find ourselves before Him, we will hear Him speak our names.
I know I have a long time left on this earth. I have a lot of living to do, and I’m looking forward to all the beauty He will show me from today until it’s my turn to go home. But deep in my heart, I hold the promise of audibly hearing my name come from powerful, beautiful, lips of love and majesty.
I hear people talk about heaven having streets of gold and mansions. I don’t spend much time thinking about that. I think about all the empty places in my soul being filled with the words, “Well done good and faithful servant.” And every night before bed, I ask to dream about hearing my name on His lips. It gives me strength for today and hope for tomorrow.
May you live a life glorifying Christ. May your hope be found in His name, and in the joy you will experience when He someday speaks your own.
A good name is to be chosen rather than great riches, Loving favor rather than silver and gold.
-Psalm 22:1
Love,
Jennifer
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