Ye Are Gods: What’S In A Name?

Have you ever fallen sick or observed strange symptoms in your life? Often, we find ourselves going to the hospital to see a doctor, running a series of tests and getting a diagnosis. That diagnosis would determine our relief or despair, testimony or prayer point, and, in most cases, how our lives are ordered moving forward. That’s the power of things having identities.

Continuing in the series on attributes that make men gods, we continue to pick lessons from the first recorded actions of God, the creator of heaven and earth, in Genesis. In Genesis 1vs. 5, God called the light Day and the darkness he called Night. We will consider this calling or naming aspect of God today. The light had already been separated from darkness, but this attribute of calling gave light and darkness their identity, meaning, and purpose. What’s in a name? Everything, for the evening and morning, was the first Day. This dimension was also seen as one of Adam's first acts when he named different animals, “and brought them unto Adam to see what he would call them: and whatsoever Adam called every living creature, that was the name thereof names he gave them became their names.” Genesis 2:19 Power in naming things, power in bringing identity!

Replete through the scriptures are instances of people faced with seemingly difficult situations whose pronouncement changed things for them. Paul says “… even God, who quickeneth the dead, and calleth those things which be not as though they were. Romans 4:17 Whatever name you call something remains the name thereof.

Are there adverse circumstances in your life? What do you say about it? Statements of fear or faith? There was the story about the Shunamite woman in the bible who lost her only son (2 Kings 4:1-37). When the prophet and her husband asked about the situation, she said it was well. That was a statement of faith. A strong one as of that, for things changed in that situation and her son ended up living. The people who went to spy out the land called themselves grasshoppers before the giants of Cannan. Unfortunately, even though they had been delivered from Egypt by the mighty power of God and had his precious promises, the names they called themselves proved to be a more powerful force in their lives, and they ended up dying as grasshoppers. Your life takes the identity you give it.

Naming things pervades realities and influences lives. With this knowledge, what sort of actions should you then take? First, make things consciously. God made the light, but he had to put a name to it, and the darkness, he put a name. Putting a name to circumstances helps to define their purpose. Darkness, seemingly voidness, looks gloomy, but it finds a new meaning with Night—a time of rest and refreshment. The night comes when no man can work, and it is the time of rest. The darkness was terrible, but the night was now good. Why? Because of the name. That’s the power in a name.

Over your circumstances, why don’t you put a name to things? Are you rising and falling in sin? Name that as a disaster, not necessarily a mistake, and that would focus your mind on knowing why and what to do and not to do. That could be a besetting sin, a stumbling block, or a rock of offense meant to hinder you from intentionally serving the Lord. When Peter told Jesus not to go to the cross, our Lord immediately identified that as the devil speaking and rebuked it immediately (Mark 8:33)! Be aware of circumstances in your life.

In the same vein, why don’t you count your blessings? The hymn says to name them one by one, and what the Lord has done will surprise you. Life sometimes gets overwhelming, and the pressures often make us lose sight of more important things. Can you note the good things and praise the Lord for them? The year is just beginning, and with it, goals, plans, and projects have been set. Perhaps you look back at the goals of the previous years with dismay because you did not achieve everything you set out to do in the previous year or maybe with content, because you did. Name those things and thank God for what you've done and yet to do. Have that mindset in naming things.

Finally, with naming comes identity and order. After the Day and night were called. The scriptures say the evening and the morning were the first Day. Not the morning and evening, but the evening and morning in that order (Gen 1:5). Two separate things were made in a particular sequence on the first day and subsequent days after. In your life, why not have that form of categorization over issues and circumstances? There’s the evening and then the morning. That was the record of the first Day, and from that time, so many other days have been made. Don’t be afraid to start. God had created things before that time, but after giving them identity, a name, and purpose, the evening and morning became the first Day.

There’ll be an evening, but sure, as the word of God, there’ll also be morning. Don’t be dismayed, beloved reader, for there shall be a morning soon. A morning of joy, hope, gladness, joy, comfort, and fulfillment. As you name things, speak over that situation, name it clearly and boldly, and call things forth. There shall be a morning, and you shall celebrate joyfully in Jesus' name. Say this prayer with me: Lord Jesus, I speak forth your word into existence over my life, situation, and circumstance! I take my identity in your reality over my circumstances. My life shall be ordered by the Lord. I walk as a god on earth. It is morning in my heart, glory to your name. Amen!