Robert Ostman’s painting titled: “Identity” inspired by Your Secret Name.

His description:

“He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.   To the one who conquers I will give some of the hidden manna, and I will give him a white stone, with a new name written on the stone that no one knows except the one who receives it.” -Revelation 2:17

I chose the topic of “Identity” because it has been a concept that has been perusing my thoughts for years.  One of the facets of our identities resides in our names.  We have our given names, nicknames, the names others call us, the names others think about us (or the ones we fear they do), and the names we think of ourselves.  That’s a lot of names to identify us; plenty of names to fear.  What we focus on becomes reality, whether it was true in the past or not.   Where is your focus?  In what or whom do you place your IDENTITY? 

Let us focus on the One who will give us a new name and some of the hidden manna.  Let your future become your reality!  Let your old identity die in its grave, covered by the blood of Christ.  Embrace your shining new identity that is pure, righteous, and white because of Who God sees in you.  For more information about your identity and your secret name that God will give you, check out the book,“Your Secret Name”, by Kary Oberbrunner, available at amazon.com 

This painting is a conceptual representation of our past, present, and future identities.  The bottom of the painting is a textured black that represents our past.   It contains names that we have been or are still known by.  Our past is sin, darkness, and death. 

The center of the painting is Jesus blood and sacrifice.  His blood covers our sin and He becomes our new Identity.  Our new Identity is found in Christ. 

The white in the painting represents the purity and righteousness of our new identity found in Christ.  The white stone in the center has seven blanks on it which represents the perfect number of God and your new “secret” name which God will give you. 

I hope this painting encourages you to leave the past where it belongs in the grave, to recognize your new position in Christ, and to live in the present without fear as you look forward to the future with hope and the promise of a new name!