“SAME NAME.” THAT’S THE TITLE OF A NEW REALITY TV SERIES. I watched the first episode last evening. And I must say, it was mildly entertaining. It’s about celebrities trading places for a few days with total strangers who just happen to share the same name. It reminded me of “Wife Swap,” another reality show. By switching places, they get to see how the other half lives.

This “name” thing sets my mind to whirling. Suppose I had the same name as some famous person? Would that impact me in any way? Would it make a difference in the way I think and live? And what about my family name? Am I careful to guard it so that it will not be soiled in any manner? Name and character are so linked together.

What’s in a name? Plenty, according to Justin Kaplan and Anne Bernays, authors of the book, The Language of Names. “Names penetrate the core of our being.” In the section of their book where they discuss literary names, the authors point out that English novelist Charles Dickens was a great master at naming his characters. Seth Pecksniff, Wilkins Micawber, Tiny Tim, Sir Mulberry Hawk, and Thomas Gradgrind are just a few examples of characters whose names reflect who they are.

If God, the Author and finisher of our faith was to give you a name, what do you think it might be? Remember, that name would reflect your character—who you are at the core of your being. Certainly it would give one pause.

As a Christian, I bear a name that must be above reproach. I share the same name with countless others. We get to spend as much time as we care to with the greatest Celebrity of all time. What does the world think of Him by what they see in us? Bringing honor to His name is of extreme importance. Our lives really have only one purpose—to reflect our Lord. We must guard against doing anything that will cause others to profane His holy name.