June 2000
What's in a name?
It has been the subject of many discussions around the country over the last few weeks. On the radio, on television and in the newspapers people have been speculating what it might be, as well as what it might not be. I'm talking, of course, about the name that would have been given to the new baby born to the Prime Minister. It seemed a matter of such importance to many that they often wondered about it. This thought might well lead us to ask the question "Well what's in a name anyway?"
A name of promise
When Matthew in his gospel quotes the prophet Isaiah he says, "Behold a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us." It is important to understand that when the Lord Jesus came into this world He was a child born, but the prophet Isaiah would also remind us that He was a Son given. For the one who was born at Bethlehem is eternal in His nature; He is equal with God; John tells us in his gospel that He is "the image of the invisible God."
A name of purpose
Before the Lord Jesus was born an angel appeared to Joseph and said to him, "And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name Jesus: for he shall save his people from their sins." The bible would show to us that there was a purpose clearly laid out for the life of the Lord Jesus; and in His name, meaning "Jehovah is Salvation", for Acts 4:12 says, "Neither is their salvation in any other: for there is no other name under heaven given among men whereby we must be saved."
A life of faith...(Michael Faraday)
Michael Faraday was born in 1791 in London's Elephant and Castle district. The third child of a village blacksmith, he grew up in rented rooms above a coach-house; rarely going to school and spending most of his waking hours playing in the streets. Life was hard for the family in those early years as a corn shortage lead to each family living on one loaf of bread per week for each person. Although the family were very poor materially, they were rich spiritually as the faith they had in God, and their dependence on the Bible as the infallible word God, lead to a happy atmosphere in the home.
At thirteen years of age Michael took his first job as a newspaper and delivery boy and soon moved on to become a stationer and book binder. It was during this time that his interest in science, and electricity in particular, was awakened. Things that he read when binding books or articles were soon tried out at home whenever time would permit.
On several occasions he was taken to hear Sir Humphrey Davy's lectures in Albemarle Street, and would spend hours writing down, and copying up all of the information his young mind would drink in. He sent a copy of these notes to Sir Humphrey asking if there was any chance he could work as an assistant in his laboratories. Through an unusual chain of event this became possible and Faraday had got his big chance.
Looking back over his early years Michael had been brought up to understand that though people are capable of many good things they are generally corrupt and sinful through nature. Faraday believed that people could only be reconciled to God through a personal life-changing conversion. However, upon observing the life of his employer, the first initial doubts of this teaching developed into outright disbelief and Michael set about working hard for the man; brilliant scientist, and idol of the nation - Sir Humphrey.
By the time Faraday was thirty he had made many discoveries (including that of benzene) and was starting to be recognised by the leading men of that day. Despite the workload and unquenched desire for success, Michael never lost contact with his family and would insist on visiting them, and the Chapel, whenever he could.
When Michael Faraday wanted to marry Sarah Bernard, the daughter of one of the chapel elders, she told him she was worried that she would marry a "mind with a man attached", for such was the thinking of this man. However, for 47 years until his death, they enjoyed a happy and loving marriage. One month after his marriage he nailed his Christian colours to the mast. Having had doubts in his life before, he was now convinced of the God of the bible and declared his faith before the church congregation.
Within three years of his marriage Michael was elected a fellow of the Royal Society and had embarked on his great quest for usable electrical power without batteries. In 1831 the major breakthrough came. After weeks and weeks of experiments, thinking and consideration, Faraday had discovered his historic dynamo: and he was still only forty four at the time.
Alongside his work in the laboratories Faraday's work in the chapel was also increasing. Every Sunday he would stand up and preach from notes on small white cards. Faraday had found an understanding of life's purpose by studying and believing the teaching of the bible. The gateway to that experience had been the realisation of his sinfulness before God, and the need to repent of his sins and surrender his life to God. "Without the conviction of sin," he said, "there is no ground of hope to the Christian."
Faraday died in 1867 at Hampton Court. At his death he had no less than ninety-seven distinctions from international academies of science - all of them unsought. He left them all behind and went to be with the Saviour whom he had come to love and appreciate throughout his life of experiment and investigation.
Links