https://odb.org/2026/10/26/god-knows-your-name
Isaiah 43:1–7 (NIV): But now, this is what the Lord says— he who created you, Jacob, he who formed you, Israel: “Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze. For I am the Lord your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior; I give Egypt for your ransom, Cush and Seba in your stead. Since you are precious and honored in my sight, and because I love you, I will give people in exchange for you, nations in exchange for your life. Do not be afraid, for I am with you; I will bring your children from the east and gather you from the west. I will say to the north, ‘Give them up!’ and to the south, ‘Do not hold them back.’ Bring my sons from afar and my daughters from the ends of the earth— everyone who is called by my name, whom I created for my glory, whom I formed and made.”
Many people enjoy seeing their names in print. It’s a way for them to be known or even “seen.” But rest assured, Someone much more important already knows your name and already sees you. When Isaiah reminded the Israelites about God’s love for them, he said, “[God has] summoned you by name; you are mine” (Isaiah 43:1). The prophet was reminding the people of God’s covenant agreement with them formed with their forefather Abraham many years before (see Genesis 12:1-3). And even though the people may have felt abandoned during the time these words were spoken, Isaiah’s reminder showed that God knew their needs and was with them (Isaiah 43:2-5). (Katara Patton, Our Daily Bread, 26th October 2026)
The the fact that God knows our names should come as no surprise since our relationship with God in Christ is a personal one; unlike the Israelites during the time of their exile in Babylon who knew God as a nation. Believers in Christ have a direct relationship with God. The veil at the Temple was torn in two after the death of Jesus. We now have direct access and communion with God at the personal level. Nevertheless as the universal church, we are still the bride of Christ as a family and will be reunited with Christ when He returns.
That brings us to the more important question this morning – are our names written in the Book of Life? Yes! Because we have been redeemed by the blood of Christ. That’s the first part of our salvation – justification. It’s in the past tense and it is by the grace of God. It is not by our own works although once saved, we are to do good works; faith without works is dead. Saved from the penalty of sin, which is death and thus we have eternal life.
The second part to our salvation is sanctification and this is in the present tense. This is where we need to live our lives in accordance with the Word (Logos, who is Christ) and be transformed by the renewal of our minds so we test and approve His good, pleasing and perfect will. We are thus saved from the power of sin. We are able to break free from sin and our old self by the power of the Holy Spirit.
The final part of our salvation is glorification when Christ returns or we as believers in Christ depart this world of the living. We will be saved from the presence of sin. We will eventually be given a glorified body and will dwell in the presence of God at the end of age. It is in the future tense and is the hope of glory we look forward to.
Always remember that the first part – justification – is only the beginning. After our act of faith, it is this journey of faith of the second part sanctification that we need to mindful of and matters most – before we are glorified in Christ. This is where the concept of just saying the sinner’s prayer saves us for all eternity falls apart. We need to remain on the boat of salvation like the seed that fell on good soil. Having the right to enter and board is not good enough to carry us through to our final destination.
Sanctification is in the present tense. Is my name still written in the Book of Life? That is the question we need to ponder this morning. God knows our names and knows us inside out, even every hair we have. Yet He gave us the free will. Choose and decide wisely in everything that we do.
Have a good week ahead, everyone! May the LORD our God bless us with His wisdom and discernment as we deal with issues of life and at work while we do not conform to the pattern of this world while being transformed by the renewing of our minds! Amen! Hallelujah!
