p. 8 | THE GREAT SALVATION by Geo. W. Reaser

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Mountain View, California · Nov 7, 1906

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 32, No. 43.

THE GREAT SALVATION

By Geo. W. Reaser

THE NAME OF THE GOD OF OUR SALVATION.

“The name of the Lord is a strong tower; the righteous runneth into it and is safe.” “We will rejoice in Thy salvation, in the name of our God we will set up our banners.”

A name, bestowed by the Lord, usually indicates the character of the one to whom the name is given. If the individual changes in character, his name is changed. The prince of evil spirits once bore the name of “Lucifer,” meaning “day star.” When he fell and became antagonistic to God, and right, and truth, his name was changed to “Satan,” meaning “adversary.” He also bears the name of “Apollyon,” “destroyer,” of “Diabolus,” “accuser.” He has well merited this title by cutting down earth’s millions for six thousand years.

The second son of the patriarch Isaac once bore the name of “Jacob,” meaning “supplanter;” but when, at the brook Jabbok, he became converted, his name was changed to “Israel,” “overcomer.” The new names bestowed by the Lord upon the redeemed will designate the characters which they have developed, through grace, in this present world.

God’s Name Indicates His Character, and also implies His attributes; and as He is always the same, His name will never be changed, but will, however, be more full of precious meaning to us the better we become acquainted with Him in this life, and the more intimate our association with Him in the life beyond.

There are many titles which may be appropriately applied to the Creator, each indicating one of His numerous attributes; but His proper name is “Jehovah.” He announced Himself to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, as El Shaddai, the Almighty God. To Moses,—when He was about to make such an exhibition of His power as had not been witnessed since the creation of the world,—as “Jehovah,” meaning “the Eternal, the Immutable.” He instructed Moses to announce Him to Pharaoh as “I AM,” meaning “the Only Self-existent One,” and the One in whom every living being has existence—the Center of all life and energy.

When Moses, commissioned with the arduous task of leading the children of Israel to Canaan, felt special need of divine encouragement, he made the request of Jehovah, that he might be shown His glory. The Lord replied that He would reveal all His goodness, and proclaim His name before His servant. In fulfilment of His promise, the Lord descended in the cloud and proclaimed His name, saying, “Jehovah, Jehovah, merciful and gracious, long-suffering, and abundant in goodness and truth; keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin.” When Moses heard this announcement he “made haste, and bowed his head toward the earth, and worshiped.” No more complete definition of the name of the Lord need be given than is here revealed.

He is first “Jehovah,” the only independent power in the universe; then, in His very nature, is every attribute of goodness and virtue. In the simple proclamation of His name is foundation for the fullest hope for repentant sinners. He not only forgives sin, but, being the Creator, He creates in the submissive sinner a character like His own.

The name of Jehovah is said to be a “strong tower” and a place of perfect safety to the righteous. There is no other place of security for the children of men, for all have sinned, and the due wages of sin is the second death. By running into the name of the One against whom he has sinned, the Lord who is merciful and willing to forgive sin, bestows His own “goodness,” or character, upon the humble and repentant sinner. Thus it is that the character is changed and made Godlike, and the mind, which is the seat of intellect and character, having been renewed, the transformed one has the name of God written in his forehead, and is, in character, and therefore in reality, in the place of safety, the “strong tower.”

Observe that the Lord has inscribed His name in the heart of His law which is a transcript of His character. This law impresses the thought that its Author is the Creator, and hence the only One who has power to create us unto good works. By this re-creative process He stamps His own character upon our hearts, or minds, and thus again we have the spiritual, but none the less real, operation by which the name of God is written in our foreheads.

Those who know the name of the Lord, by living experience, and by having been re-created, will put their trust in Him, as it is written, “The Lord also will be a refuge for the oppressed, a refuge in times of trouble. And they that know Thy name will put their trust in Thee; for Thou, Lord, hast not forsaken them that seek Thee.” He has never forsaken a single soul who has thrown himself upon His mercy.

Precious Promises.

There are numerous precious promises to those who thus know the name of the Lord. He says that upon such He will “set His love,” and deliver them in the time of trouble; that He will satisfy them with long life and show them His salvation. What a marked manifestation of the salvation of God, when the prophecy is fulfilled which states concerning God’s people that “a thousand shall fall at thy side, and ten thousand at thy right hand,” but at that same time complete deliverance to the one who knows the name of the Lord, by having His character sealed in his inmost soul, His name written in his forehead.

Reader, how great length of life will it require to fully satisfy you? Will a life running parallel in extent of time with the life of God satisfy your heart’s longings? The Lord longs to confer such a life upon you. Will you accept it?

The Saviour says, “Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of My God, . . . and I will write upon him the name of My God, . . . and I will write upon him My new name.” Christ obtained a new name by overcoming sin, death, and Satan, thus becoming surety for our salvation. When, through Christ, we are complete overcomers, He will bestow upon us His new name.

Concerning those who meditate upon the name of the Lord, it is recorded that their names are written before Him, and in His “abundant goodness,” He counts them as His special treasure, and assures them that when destruction comes swift and sure upon the wicked, He will spare them “as a man spareth his own son that serveth him.”

Thus the power, patience, long-suffering, mercy, and love, exercised by our God in devising

and completing the plan of salvation, will be to Him an everlasting name, and JEHOVAH will be all in all.

"Kings of the earth, and all people; princes, and all judges of the earth; both young men, and maidens; old men, and children; let them ### Praise the Name of the Lord; for His name alone is excellent; His glory is above the earth and heaven." "My mouth shall speak the praise of the Lord; and let all flesh bless His holy name forever and ever." "Praise God, ye servants of the Lord; Praise God, Ye angels strong; praise God, ye sons of men; Praise Him who made, and who redeemed your souls; Who gave you hope, reflection, reason, will; Minds that can pierce eternity remote, And live at once on future, present, past."