What's In A Name?

Each of us has a name. What does YOUR name mean? My name is Robert and I was named after Robert the Bruce, a Scottish king. Cool!

Robert means "fame, bright, glory, honor, renown, shining." None of those descriptions describe who I am except maybe 'shining' - as in my forehead, where my hair used to be.

Have you ever heard of the name Eliezer? Not likely, unless you have read the 15th chapter of Genesis recently. Eliezer was the trusted servant of Abraham. Do you know what the name Eliezer means? El means 'God' and azar means 'to help.' God's helper.

Fast forward to the New Testament. when Jesus was talking with His disciples. He's telling them about the Holy Spirit who will come from The Father. 

“When the Helper comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, namely, the Spirit of truth who comes from the Father, He will testify about Me," - John 15:26

Now read Genesis 24. I hope you are ready for what I am about to tell you. I wasn't when our pastor delivered his message in church last Sunday. Ready? The Old Testament story of Abraham sending his helper to get a bride for his son Isaac is a foreshadowing about the rapture of the church.

Think about it. Who is the bride of Christ? It's the church. Abraham represents God, Isaac represents Jesus, Eliezer represents The Holy Spirit, and Rebekah, Isaac's bride-to-be, represents The Church.

The Holy Spirit was sent to find God's church just like Eliezer was sent to find Rebekah, the bride. The Holy Spirit is with us now. When it is time for us (the church) to meet our bride, Jesus will come to meet us. He will meet us in the air. Isaac also came to meet his bride, Rebekah.

"Now Isaac had come from Beer Lahai Roi, for he was living in the Negev. 63 He went out to the field one evening to meditate, and as he looked up, he saw camels approaching. 64 Rebekah also looked up and saw Isaac. She got down from her camel 65 and asked the servant, “Who is that man in the field coming to meet us?”

“He is my master,” the servant answered." - Genesis 24:62-65

Foretold in the Old Testament and promised in the New Testament . . . but when will it happen? Soon my friends. Soon. God ALWAYS keeps His promises. ALL of His promises. And for that we should be grateful.

[Special thanks to Pastor Dave for providing an amazing sermon on Sunday, the inspiration for this story]

Wedding Day - Casting Crowns