Writ in Water

December 30, 2020

Devotions, Blog

The poet John Keats chose an epitaph that weeps with despondency. They tell of a man succumbing to emotions that were lying to him.

When he died in his 25th year, he instructed his friends that the only words on his tombstone were to be: "Here lies One Whose Name was writ in Water.”

A name writ in water

A name writ in water. A name that disappears before a letter is able to be read. A name that leaves behind no trace of its owner's existence.

I wouldn't be surprised if, at the end of 2020, you can understand some of Keats' exasperation with life. This year has had more than a normal share of frustration, disappointment, misfortune, and disillusionment.

Even Solomon's complaint, “Meaningless! Meaningless!” says the Teacher. “Utterly meaningless! Everything is meaningless” (Ecclesiastes 1:2) may have found new meaning for you.

A name writ in heaven

Our emotions may demand we judge the year -- and our life during it -- as a failure.

But feeling failure is not the same as failing. Feeling hopeless is not equivalent to being without hope.

The wooden cradle that held the Christ-Child and the wooden cross that tortured him to death, guarantees our real status -- an eternally bright status -- with a name given to us by God himself.

Ours is not a name writ in water.

Listen. Listen to the Savior's voice and rejoice.

Jesus describes everyone believer and promises, "The one who is victorious, …I will never blot out the name of that person from the book of life, but will acknowledge that name before my Father and his angels (Revelation 3:5).

Your name, dear Christian, is written in heaven's book of life. In indelible ink. Jesus wrote it there.

Abandon the lying feelings that tell you anything else.

Rejoice.

John Keats’ friends who were responsible for his burial carried out his wishes for an inscription that said, “Here lies One Whose Name was writ in Water.” But they added, “This Grave contains all that was mortal, of a YOUNG ENGLISH POET, who on his … — John Keats’ friends who were responsible for his burial carried out his wishes for an inscription that said, “Here lies One Whose Name was writ in Water.” But they added, “This Grave contains all that was mortal, of a YOUNG ENGLISH POET, who on his Death Bed, in the Bitterness of his heart, at the Malicious Power of his enemies, desired these words to be Engraven on his Tomb Stone.”