A new grade, a new teacher, a new start; that's what I thought of every class I began in grade school. The reality was they all started off in a really annoying way. One of the first things every teacher would do is to line up the kids in alphabetical order and set us up in the prearranged seating. Of course, being so blessed as having a last name which began with an "A" meant that I was always first, and doubly blessed by being placed right in front of the teacher's desk (did you hear the sarcasm?). Usually, they started in front of their desk and worked their way across the room, but occassionally, a teacher would mix it up and start in front of their desk and work their way to the back- still didn't help me though. I think there was only one time in grade school I got to sit somewhere else!
Being first all the time became very annoying especially since I was shy and didn't want to be the first at anything. Eventually I determined that one day I would only marry a man whose name was in the middle to end of the alphabet. This was very important for me when I was young because I knew that I would take my husband's name and would never again have a last name ending in "A". {Honey, if you're reading this, I didn't just marry you for your last name!!! :) } I applied for a name change soon after being married in '88 and with great joy opened the envelope containing my new birth certificate with my new name. I would never have to be first again by alphabetical listing.
As to the importance of name changes, when we adopted our children, one of our greatest days was when we received the legally binding adoption papers which showed the new name we gave our children. There was a joyful feeling of permanance which filled our hearts as we saw they were ours- our family, our children. This would be the beginning of our new lives together as a family, and we looked with anticipation of the great times we would have together.
We who have given our hearts and lives to the Lord Jesus Christ have each become a new person (2Cor. 5:17) and have been adopted into the family of God (Eph. 1:4,5). We are His children forever. But one day, a day of great joy, we will have our new name given us by the Lord where we will forever, in a binding way, be with Him.
Let everyone who can hear, listen to what the Spirit is saying to the churches: Every one who is victorious... I will give to each a white stone, and on the stone will be engraved a new name that no one else knows except the one receiving it. Rev. 2:17
And they shall see his face; and his name shall be written on their foreheads... the Lord God will be their light; and they shall reign forever and ever. Rev. 22:4,5