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Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Sep 19, 1907

FromReview and Herald, Vol. 84, No. 38.

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Character Names

By GEO. C. CARY

GEO. C. CARY
“A GOOD NAME is rather to be chosen than great riches, and loving favor rather than silver and gold.”
Many of this world are striving for a great name and worldly honor; but God’s people are striving for an “everlasting name, that shall not be cut off.” In order to get this name we must, by the help of God, perfect characters that meet the approval of heaven.
By learning the given name of a person, one does not become acquainted with him. One must see the daily life, the character of the person.
In olden times the children received character names, either of their own natures or of some experience in the life of the parents. For instance, the name “Sarai” means contentious, and “Jacob” means the supplanter. Sarai’s name was changed by God to Sarah, princess; and Jacob’s name to Israel, prince of God. Jacob received this name after wrestling with God all night for the victory over sin and deception.
I fear if God should name us now, there would be many Sarais and Jacobs. Let us wrestle with God, and gain the victory over every besetting sin, through faith in Christ. By beholding we become changed. Let us behold the meek and lowly Jesus, who went about doing good, and follow his example, his character. His name is recorded in Isa. 9:6 and in Ex. 33:19; 34:5, 6. Moses wished to become acquainted with the Lord, wished to see his glory. “And he said, I will make all my goodness pass before thee.” “And the Lord descended in the cloud, and stood with him there, and proclaimed the name of the Lord. And the Lord passed by before him, and proclaimed, The Lord, The Lord God, merciful and gracious, long-suffering, and abundant in goodness and truth.”
What a good character name! Yet we may have that name. “Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go no more out: and I will write upon him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, which is New Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven from my God: and I will write upon him my new name.”
The experiences we pass through and the difficulties we meet will help us form characters and determine our new name.
How many thoughtlessly use in vain these character names of God; as, “goodness” and “gracious.” By using these words as by-words do we not break the third commandment? Let us learn to reverence his holy name, and drop the use of by-words and idle words. “Every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment.” “Swear not at all; neither by heaven; for it is God’s throne: nor by the earth; for it is his footstool: neither by Jerusalem; for it is the city of the great King. Neither shalt thou swear by thy head, because thou canst not make one hair white or black. But let your communication be, Yea, yea:Nay, nay: for whatsoever is more than these cometh of evil.”
*“Sitting at the feet of Jesus, O what words I hear him say! Happy place! so near, so precious! May it find me there each day.”*
Bonacca, Spanish Honduras.