I Make All Things New...

"Behold, I make all things new..."

"Chiseled by the Master's Hand" is the title of a wonderful teaching series I heard on the radio recently by Dr. Erwin Lutzer, Pastor of Moody Church in Chicago, and host of the program "Running to Win."  If you are interested in hearing this teaching for yourself, I believe it is archived on Moody Radio.  I cannot recommend this teaching to you enough, although anything Dr. Lutzer teaches is worth hearing.  He is a gifted expositor of the Word of God.

The entire thrust of this teaching is that we are made in the image of our God, fashioned directly by His hand. We are not our own.  We belong to Him.  Only He has certain rights over us.  The right to give us life and to decide when to take us home are all in the sovereign domain of God and God alone.  This may seem rather basic to many of us, but in a day and age when laws are being written that disregard these truths, Dr. Lutzer's teaching is very timely.

Dr. Lutzer, a masterful teacher and story teller, includes in this teaching a few priceless words of wisdom on the subject of names.

Here is an excerpt from his teaching:

"Only God has the right to re-name you and He wants to."

"Who are you?  Tell God the complete truth of who you are.  What is your name?  Is it Fear?  Is it Rejection?  Is it Anger?  Is it Unforgiving?  Is it Bitterness?  Is it Failure? Is it...?

Give to God who you are.  He wants to re-make you, heal you, transform you.  He will give you a new name. Only God has the right to name you.  You are His."

Where are you, right now, as you read these words?  Are you burdened with a name He never intended you to carry?  Think about the name you give yourself right now and the name He wants to give you.  He has a new name for you.  Go to Him and let Him reveal to you what it is.  

In place of the name the deceiver has branded you with, the Lord  names you - 

Courage. Victory.  Chosen.  Forgiven.  Peace.  Treasured.  Joy.  Hope.  Dearly Loved.  Never Forgotten. Never Abandoned.  Safe in the Hand of the Father.  Redeemed by the Blood of the Lamb...

The list of new names He has for His children is endless.  Lean in close to your Heavenly Father and let Him whisper to you the beautiful and life giving truth of the name He has for you.  Accept nothing less. This is part of God's gift to you, bought and paid for by the Blood of Christ.  Take it to yourself.  And never look back...

"Then He who sat on the throne said, "Behold, I make all things new."  And He said to me, "Write, for these words are true and faithful."  Revelation 21:5  NKJV