Have you ever known someone by their nickname? If you have, that most likely means you were in a special group of close friends or family–or in my case where I grew up–a small community where we were the only ones allowed to use those nicknames. If a stranger or someone not yet “accepted” into the group of family or friends should ever try to start using someone’s nickname instead of their given name, it may not be received too well. Nicknames are usually given by friends or family and with a “group given” nickname comes some respect. Occasionally, a derogatory nickname might be given to someone, but those names rarely last.
Here’s a list of some of the nicknames I’ve come in contact with over the years: Gopher, Boots, Bucky, Toad, Spike, Tank, Buster, Sparky, Biggie, Tink, Bug, Turkey, Chopper, Squeak, Duke, Ace, Skater, Peanut and Tiny. One thing I’ve noticed about names…the longer I called someone by their nickname it becomes hard (in a few cases impossible) to remember their real name!
I’ve always been curious too about how a nickname is given and then in some cases last a lifetime!
There are most likely trillions (or more) of stars in outer space…and the Bible says that God has not only counted the stars (after all, He made them) but He named them all! “He counts the stars and calls them all by name. How great is our Lord! His power is absolute! His understanding is beyond comprehension!” Psalm 147:4-5 (NLT)
Many believe that in heaven God will give each one of us a New Name that He has uniquely chosen for each one of us. He certainly could, He’s God and knows us as a unique individual. “Now we see things imperfectly, like puzzling reflections in a mirror, but then we will see everything with perfect clarity. All that I know now is partial and incomplete, but then I will know everything completely, just as God now knows me completely.” I Corinthians 13:12 (NLT)
So, if God gives us New Names in Heaven, they won’t be nicknames, but they will be the most loving, descriptive names given by The One who knows each one of us completely…What a day that will be!
Till Next Time…..
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