BY HANSON FU HSIANG CHO

IGHTY-NINE YEARS AGO A BABY WAS born. His mother died because of the hard delivery, and his father thought that maybe the baby couldn't make it beyond one year. But the baby lived.

So his father named him en Lai.

The name means that the baby came from heaven (or was sent from heaven). The child grew up, accepted Christianity, got married, and became my father.

My grandfather told me the story when I was a child.

In the 1940s the people of Taiwan were very poor. We did not know what the smell of meat was. All we had the whole year were sweet potatoes and the leaves of sweet potatoes. Until I was 14 I never had any shoes. I can still remember that one Chinese lunar New Year, my father gave me 10 cents to spend as I wished. I felt I was so rich that I could buy anything!

During all those years of struggle and heartache, my parents never lost their faith in Christ; and by God's grace every one of their five children made it to adulthood. My parents believed that if we loved God and kept His commandments, everything would come out all right.

Years later my father told me that my brothers' and sisters' names had special meaning. He had expressed his faith and hope through the names he gave his children.

Four Names, Four Messages
1. Siang. My father named his first son Siang--that's me, and that's my Chinese name. It means "country" or "home."

We may think about it this way: Where are we headed after we leave this present world? We all know it's impossible to live in the present world forever. Our life span is 70 years--perhaps 80. And it's one way, so to speak, so we cannot return. We'd all pass away one day. The Bible tells us that, as Christians, we're aliens and strangers on earth.

Several years ago we built a tomb for my mother at Pu-Li, near Taiwan Adventist College. After transferring my mother's bones to the spot, my youngest brother asked me if we too would join her there one day. "Yes," I said, "we will stay there temporarily. But after that, I hope that we can join our heavenly family."

The book of Hebrews mentions four things in this connection (see Heb. 11:13-16).

a. Abraham and his descendants admitted that they were aliens and strangers on earth.

b. They were looking for a country of their own.

c. They were longing for a better country, a heavenly one.

d. God has prepared a city for them.

That city is the New Jerusalem. The Bible says it shines with the glory of God, and its brilliance is like that of a very precious jewel, like a jasper, clear as crystal (Rev. 21:11). The wall is made of jasper; the great street of the city is of pure gold, like transparent glass (verses 18, 21). If we looked at it from a distance, the New Jerusalem would be like a big diamond sparkling in the air. How magnificent! How beautiful!

My father's own name is En, which means "heaven." He looks forward to that heavenly country, which is also my hope and desire. And I hope it's yours, too.

2. Sheng. Dad named his second son Sheng. The word means "excess," "surplus," "overabundance."

In Taipei, Hong Kong, or Tokyo, the houses are very expensive. Many people all their lives cannot afford to purchase one. And it is especially difficult for a young person to own a house. But Christ has given us a good promise. He said, "In my Father's house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you" (John 14:2).^*

What a promise! We believe there's a place for us in heaven, because Jesus Christ will prepare a place for you and me. And we're not afraid there won't be space, because the Bible says there are many rooms.

3. Hin. My father named his third son Hin. The name means "near," "close," or "at hand." It points to the nearness of the Second Coming. Jesus is at the door. He said, "After a little while you will see me" (John 16:16). "I am coming soon" (Rev. 22:20).

We can say with John the disciple, "Come, Lord Jesus" (verse 20).

4. Ow. The name of one of my sisters is Ow. The word means "goodness," or "love." Another is called Cheng. Cheng means "keeping." Both of them have the same middle name, Ing, which means "people." Their names bring to mind 1 Peter 2:9, 10, which speaks about two relationships. It says, "You are a chosen people," "a people belonging to God." Now you are the people of God.

And Micah 6:8 says: "He has showed you, O man, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God." So God requires us to act justly and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with our God, with Jesus Christ as our best example.

Incredible Love
In Taiwan they tell the story of an arranged marriage--between U Long and a young woman named Golden Flower. When U Long lifted the veil from his bride after the ceremony, he noticed that the woman's face had been scarred by smallpox. Shocked and disgusted, U Long had as little to do with her as possible.

Meanwhile she tried her best to make him happy. She worked hard at home, hoping her husband would eventually accept her. But he remained coldly indifferent to all her expressions of affection. Golden Flower lived almost like a widow.

After 12 years of this sham marriage U Long began to lose vision in both eyes. A doctor told him he would go completely blind if he didn't have a cornea transplant, but the operation was expensive, and there was a long waiting list.

Hearing this, Golden Flower began working long hours in the evening making straw hats for extra money. One day U Long, informed that someone's cornea had been made available, rushed to the hospital to have the operation.

After he had recovered, he grudgingly decided to see his wife so that he could thank her for raising the money. When he turned her bowed head so she could look at him, U Long was surprised that she stared at him with blank, sightless eyes. Her cornea were gone. Overcome with emotion, he sank at her feet and cried. And then for the first time in their marriage he whispered her name: "Golden Flower!"

Jesus longs for a relationship with those who have been indifferent to Him for so long. He longs for us to finally whisper His name as our Savior. He was willing to sacrifice not only His eyes but His whole body in order to demonstrate His unfailing love. And one day, if we're faithful, He will give us each "a white stone with a new name written on it" (Rev. 2:17), a name known only to Him and to us.

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^* All Scripture quotations in this article are from the New International Version.

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Hanson Cho is the manager-editor of Signs of the Times Publishing Association in Taipei, Taiwan.