From Departure To Arrival

A New Covenant – A New Name

On this first day of a new Church Year, this first day of a new Academic Year, having come to a wonderful conclusion of a time of celebrating God’s Faithfulness in reinvigorated, re-established and re-visited lives, we continue with a most privileged time.

We have come to witness two opening days, which also close the week that ends our Special month of treasures from a decade ago. I say that we are truly special and blessed, as in one week, we have a magnificent ending and sure hope of a multitudinous beginning. Indeed, our departure from strictly celebrating the ROUTE, the - renewed, open, unbiased, trusting, embracing - giving over of our hearts and minds to God, has been Spirit-led and Spirit-filled. This has brought us to two days of covenanting with our precious Lord, Master and Saviour God. We are still with Abram, our father of faith, as God shares covenant with him and with us, children of the promise.

Our reading is Genesis 17: 1 – 8. However, I shall only quote the first two verses here. When Abram was ninety-nine years old, the LORD appeared to him and said, I am God Almighty; walk before me and be blameless. I will confirm my covenant between me and you and will greatly increase your numbers.

God goes to Abram, His called and chosen servant of faith, the one who is following Him, and makes a new covenant with him. Indeed, this is not the first time that God has made a covenant with Abram. But on this Covenant Day, God is making a new covenant, another covenant with the one He loves. God is making a covenant of circumcision to Abram. This is a covenant, a promise to Abram, that he will be the father of many nations. This is what God says to Abram. As for me, this is my covenant with you: You will be the father of many nations. Genesis 17: 4. Note, God has already made a covenant with Abram. The name Abram means, exalted father. God takes the name Abram and raises it. He makes this name become real, meaningful, and flesh, in Abram. But God wants a new covenant and He is making this new covenant today, to make Abram, not just an exalted father, but a father of many nations. God Himself decides to give Abram a new name to go with this new rising, this new promise. God changes his name from Abram to Abraham.

There are three things you need to see with the making of this new covenant. Will you please understand that although God makes this new covenant to one man, Abram, He is today, making it to you? Now let’s examine this three-change work.

There is a change:-

From Abram to Abraham - No longer will you be called Abram; your name will be Abraham Genesis 17: 5a. Looking at how the actual word is changed, you will notice an addition, not a subtraction. The Lord subtracts nothing. He simply adds something. Note carefully and clearly; I say again that the change in His servant’s name comes with an addition, not a subtraction. Regardless of how you see your faith in God, regardless of how you see your name, regardless of how much you want to see things and events subtracted from you, all the Lord Jesus is doing in you, is adding that which He desires.

You have a glass of juice that is too sweet, so you add. You do not add the thing that has made it too sweet, but you add that which will make it perfect for you. You add, ice, soda, water, unsweetened juice, or whatever. You are a sinner, you are human and there are things that you would like removed from you. You don’t like your head, your eyes, your teeth, your feet and the list goes on. But the Lord wants to use you. He adds to you. He leaves your bowed legs, or your big ears and He adds to you. His addition is all you need. Do you believe this? I do!

I strongly admonish and highly encourage you in whatsoever state you find yourself, as you begin this new Academic and Ecclesiastical Year, to accept God’s Way, not what you want.

As I pondered on those directly involved in physical, mental, social, religious and other changes, I thought of others who are not directly involved and realized how much change affects every single living person, indirectly or directly.

Faith allows me to believe that this covenant is for all, as it is God alone who makes us new, to receive His New.

We shall continue with the other two tomorrow.