When recently reading accounts of people that had once been enslaved, I noticed a pattern. There were often questions about each person’s identity. In one case a man that came to be known as Bob Lemmons did not know his birth name. Once freed, a rancher with the last name Lemmons tutored him and, in gratitude, Bob took his last name. Another man, Bob Scott, lived to be 100 years old but his headstone had the wrong year of his birth. Sarah Ford was born into slavery and, as a result, never knew her birthday or even the year.
When people are not viewed as valuable, they lack identity. This contrasts with those who are considered to be the most important people like celebrities or Presidents. There are books that document their birthplace, favorite candies and nicknames. You can tour their childhood homes and visit their well-marked and often elaborate graves. Considerable care is taken to memorialize the identity of treasured historical figures.
The value-identity phenomenon happens naturally. Freshmen can name pretty much all the seniors, but seniors barely notice the existence of freshmen. When those disregarded freshmen eventually become seniors, they do the same thing to the new freshmen! Line-level employees know the identities of all the bosses and bosses will struggle to remember the name of a long-time, faithful subordinate. People remember details about the people to whom they’ve assigned the greatest value and discard the ones they’ve determined lack worth.
Popular cultural has embedded this in our lexicon. People are said to be “canceled” or “deleted” when disapproved of. Conversely, someone will say, “I see you” when wanting to approve or encourage them. These principles are in Scripture as well.
The identity of those whom God loves is of immense value to Him. God told Moses, “I know you by name, and you have also found favor in My sight” (Ex. 33:12). He also promises blessings to all that He calls by name.
I will give you the treasures of darkness and the hoards in secret places, that you may know that it is I, the LORD, the God of Israel, who call you by your name. For the sake of my servant Jacob, and Israel my chosen, I call you by your name, I name you, though you do not know me. (Is. 45:3–4)
No museum in the world contains knowledge about one person that compares to what God knows about the ones He loves. He knows the number of hairs on your head (in real time) (Lk. 12:7). He had His eye on you “before the foundation of the world” (Eph. 1:4). He knows you inside and out, including your habits, thoughts and even manner of speech.
O LORD, you have searched me and known me! You know when I sit down and when I rise up; you discern my thoughts from afar. You search out my path and my lying down and are acquainted with all my ways. Even before a word is on my tongue, behold, O LORD, you know it altogether. You hem me in, behind and before, and lay your hand upon me. Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is high; I cannot attain it. (Ps. 139:1–6)
However, God has also said, “Whoever has sinned against me, I will blot out of my book” (Ex. 32:33). Psalm 9:5, “You have rebuked the nations; you have made the wicked perish; You have blotted out their name forever and ever.”
There can be no worse fate than to be blotted out or forgotten by God and no greater joy than to be named and remembered by Him. If you are a child of God, then then He sees you. He knows you. He loves you. He remembers you. You are of supreme value in His sight. You are of such significance that a price beyond comparison was paid so that you could be in His presence for eternity.
Take comfort in something God does remember and in something He does not. He remembers His covenant promises. Repeatedly He says, “I will remember my covenant that is between me and you.” But as it relates to the recipients of the new covenant, there is something He does not remember. “For I will be merciful toward their iniquities, and I will remember their sins no more” (Heb. 8:12).
Today, thank God that He knows you by name and for the value He places on you. Thank Him that your true identity is in Him and that He will never forget you. Lastly, thank God for what He chooses not to remember—your sin. They are truths worth remembering.