Do you know what would make a great name for an epic hero?
Nimrod.
That’s right. Nimrod. The name you might hear relatives and friends calling someone they find to be stupid. Oh, wait, that doesn’t sound epic, does it?
It didn’t to me either. But at one time...
“Cush was the father of Nimrod, who grew to be a mighty warrior on the earth. He was a mighty hunter before the Lord; that is why it is said, “Like Nimrod, a mighty hunter before the Lord.” ~Genesis 10:8-9
Nimrod was such a warrior that the next few verses detail the cities he built and the kingdom he established. Warrior, hunter, hero. Thy name is Nimrod.
Making Your Own Great Name
One would assume the name of the first mighty warrior to walk the earth would still be revered. But go ahead and tell someone they remind you of Nimrod and see how that goes over for you.
See, unlike other biblical names which are hard to spell and harder to pronounce, Nimrod now has a negative connotation. And that’s my point.
Even if we go to the difficult work of making a great name for ourselves in one generation, it can vanish in the next. It’s not like we had to wait some 4-5,000 years for the name of Nimrod to to dissipate.
You might think that a great name like Nimrod would be repeated by others closer to his lifetime. You know, young dads who wanted to convey to their sons the large dreams they had for their lives. But try to tell me about another great Nimrod in history. Go ahead, I’ll wait.
Just as quickly as Nimrod’s fifteen minutes of fame began, it also ended.
What’s In A Name, Anyway?
If anything, we’ve seen the ability for a name to retain fame become exponentially shorter than ever before. We used to call them one-hit wonders. Call them whatever you want, chances are the mention of many names will evoke a response of, “Who was that?”
Even among those who were truly considered great in their field, be it athletics, entertainment, or business, within a generation or two their light fades. You might hear of their passing and read a tribute, but you know what the generations beyond will hear?
Nothing.
Please don’t think of me as a downer. In most ways, I think it was supposed to be this way. The acerbic brother of Jesus had this to say; “Your life is like the morning fog - it’s here a little while, then it’s gone.” ~James 4:14
So if our best use of time isn’t spent building our own kingdom, what should we be doing? That answer should involve someone a bit more eternal. For proof, I send you to a small letter, found deep in the New Testament.
John, the friend of Jesus, is encouraging the churches to keep supporting those who travel around sharing the Gospel of Jesus. Here’s why. “It was for the sake of the Name that they went out.” ~3 John 7
It was for the sake of the Name. Like any rapper worth his gold chain, you already know who it is. Our best efforts are spent building God’s kingdom, not our own.
Now What?
Does this take away from you living your best life now? Does it mean you shouldn’t live large and in charge? I suppose it depends on whose name you’re trying to build up.
You do you. It’s your life. If you want, be a Nimrod.
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