Truth Lesson: New Name

In fellowship with a senior and matured brother, the Lord has given me a new light concerning my growth in life and transformation through the many life experiences He has sovereignly allowed me to go through. As every spiritual experience begins with a revelation, this revelation definitely brings me to a higher experience of life in my walk with God.

He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes, to him I will give of the hidden manna, and to him I will give a white stone, and upon the stone a new name written, which no one knows except him who receives it. Revelation 2:17

A Note from the Recovery Version on a "New Name": A name designates a person; a new name designates a transformed person. Every transformed believer, as a white stone, bears “a new name…which no one knows except him who receives it.” Such a new name is the interpretation of the experience of the one who has been transformed. Hence, only he himself knows the meaning of that name.

This new name is not merely the experiences the Lord gives me as I am being transformed. Rather, it is the interpretation of the experiences and learning of spiritual lessons from it. Many, perhaps, every Christian goes through different experiences almost every day. But the question is, Are there any gaining of Christ through the experiences? Are there any spiritual interpretations of those experiences? Or, Are they merely experiences that come and go, having nothing to do with the person who experiences it? This is where many Christian fail in their Christian life. 

There is no accident in Christian life. Everything a Christian goes through has been ordained at best, or at worst, allowed by God, always with a purpose. One has to find out what are the purposes of those experiences. 

Recently, the Lord gave me some precious experiences. As I considered them in this light of "new name", I got revelations of the interpretation of those experiences. The first was related to a dog bite, which changes my lifestyle altogether and brought me closer to my family. Since that incident, I could interpret that the Lord is teaching me to spend more time with my children. In fact, I have been doing that since then. Besides, the Lord used this incident to shepherd me through many saints. The saints that I least expected that they care for me actually care for me. I used to think that my shepherding is from me to the saints. But this time, the Lord showed me that my shepherding is also the saints' shepherding. We mutually shepherd one another. I received the Lord's shepherding through the saints. Praise the Lord! 

Another instance is related to my daddy's operation. This experience has brought my siblings together, to pray together, and to love and care for one another in an intimate way. The Lord definitely gained our family life much more than before. My siblings have been graced to function very well in taking care of daddy. I could only offer from the Lord's bountiful supply and pray for them. But my siblings have practically shepherded daddy so well. The interpretation of this experience is, the Lord has actually answered all my prayers for my siblings and family. They have grown in the Lord much more than before and are bearing family responsibilities practically. I can truly trust them.

The other instance is on a printer purchase for my family's need. Since the pandemic struck India, all my children's classes are online and they need to take a lot of print out for their class works. We have been using the office printer and shared in buying the printer toner. In order to save cost, I was trying to use two old printers. Every time I tried, something went wrong and finally, I gave both the old printers up.  Then, the Lord also provided the needed money to buy a new printer. One day I went to buy a printer but could not get what I wanted. Therefore I resorted back to repairing an old one from the office. It worked for a day, and a problem occurred again. Then I realized that I should not have resorted back to an old printer when the Lord gave me sufficient money to buy a new one.  Even if the printer could be repaired, the Lord wanted me to buy a new one. Besides, the repaired new one can be gifted to a needy brother's family who could not afford a new one. Therefore, I and my wife checked some printers online and bought one. This experience taught me that when the Lord says something I better listen absolutely and not negotiate nor bargain with Him. He knows best, and He does not need my good opinion or suggestions. I only need to obey Him, He knows best.

These three instances are some life experiences whose interpretations are life lessons learned, for my gaining of Christ, and pursuit of Christ. Praise the Lord for this new name! This new name has to be gained now to become so in the New Jerusalem! What has been experienced now will be consummated in the New Jerusalem!