I want to have a great name in 2024.
That might seem audacious and even perhaps even a bit – maybe a whole lot – boastful. Whoever claims a desire to be great is clearly self-consumed, egotistical, and incredibly ungodly in their ambition. But what if I told you that not only is the desire to be great biblical but what if I added that God Himself told us that he would give us a great name? This will take some brief unpacking to avoid charges of misreading the text. Genesis 12 God tells Abram “… I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing.”
There it is, right from the mouth of God. He was going to make Abram’s name great. Abram heard this, owned this and, by faith, walked in that word. Now, here is where I need to unpack somethings briefly. The great name that God was going to make of Abram was not a greatness that focused on Abram. It was a greatness that focused on the Lord. Abram’s greatness was not Abram. His greatness was his God-reflecting, redemptive and kingdom advancing life. Abram is great because by him and through his obedience and faith you and I sit in 2024 as heirs of the covenant promises of God, in the seed of Abraham – Jesus Christ.
Consider this fact. If Abram had not been obedient to God, he would not have had a name that was great because his name would not have been connected to Jesus. The Messiah, Jesus, certainly would have come into the world but Abram’s name would not have been connected to this redemptive plan of God. Because of Abram’s obedience Jesus is the Son of Abraham. Abram’s name was made great because Abram’s life was all about the glory of God. Therefore, when I say I want to have a great name in 2024 I mean that I want to have a life more fully devoted and yielded and intentionally lived out for the global glory of God in the fame and renown of Jesus Christ to all nations.
We are seeing, before our very eyes, the results of men making their own name great. Men and women, full of selfish ambition, using the gifts given to them by the Lord to build up themselves. From major industries such as sports, movie, music, business, etc., we are seeing deception’s fruit on display and in abundance. Such fruit has not bypassed the church and, as a result, destruction from within the walls of the church is broadening lives and souls are being destroyed. We should expect nothing less since Christ told us that those who build their lives on the things of this world do so on ground that will not withstand the chilly and strong winds of worldliness and great will be the fall (Matthews 7:26,27). From the acceptance of the deconstruction of faith and the increasing moral depravity evidence, sadly, in sexual immorality of pastors the judgment that begins in the house of the Lord has commenced.
Thus, to be great in 2024 will demand spiritual discernment against Satanic deception, sanctified discipline of holiness and singular devotion to God’s mission in Jesus, through the church. Greatness in and for the Lord is clearly visible in the context where greatness for self, abounds. Noah was righteous and blameless in his generation; he stood out. Greatness in 2024 will demand nothing less than being a contrast to the unrighteous and ungodliness of this world. Those who have the courage to live for Jesus in 2024 will be those who build their lives on a strong foundation. When the chilly and strong winds of worldliness blow, they will not be shaken (Matthew 7:24,25; Psalm 15:5; 2 Peter 1:5-10).
Let us be great for the glory of God!
Soli deo Gloria