A memory is inseparable
from a name, and besides, what is a name without a memory? Great
energies are expended in life, by those trying to build one or
the other. "And they said, go to, let
us build us a city and a tower, whose top may reach unto heaven;
and let us make us a name ...". It is rightly
stated that a reputation is how others perceive us; and like it
or not, your personal legacy is evolving out of that very thing.
When we die, our name is placed in the gallery of the subjective;
but not our memory, it is surrounded with feats and photos of
the objective. The former will decay with the flesh, and
were it not etched in granite, cemeteries would be flush with
the tombs of unknown sinners. At the end of the day, it
will not be who we are, whether real or perceived, but what we do,
which shall bequeath our life to the annals of time.
"And HE said, I tell thee, Peter, the cock
shall not crow this day, before that thou shalt thrice deny that
thou knowest ME." From Heaven's vantage, the
opposite of all this is true.
"... rejoice, because your names are written in heaven."
There are no reputations in the realm of grace; only
names of the wicked, now redeemed. Peter
experienced this ... among his peers he was known as a rough,
foul mouthed fisherman.
"But HE turned, and said unto Peter, get
thee behind ME, Satan: thou art an offence unto me: for thou
savourest not the things that be of GOD, but those that be of
men." Even his closest ASSOCIATE in life
held him out as a traitorous liar.
"But
Peter, standing up with the eleven, lifted up his voice, and
said unto them, ye men of Judaea, and all ye that dwell at
Jerusalem, be this known unto you, and hearken to my words: ...
whosoever shall call on the name of the LORD shall be saved."
But praise be to GOD, for Pete's sake, a few moments at Pentecost
forever wiped away a rotten reputation with men, and established
a good name with GOD; and one which will forever be foundational to
all who know and love the NAME which is above every name.
"And the wall of the city had twelve foundations, and in them
the names of the twelve apostles of the LAMB."