His Name Is Wonderful

When Ethan Hawke started out in Hollywood as a young actor, one of his contemporaries was River Phoenix. Hawke really looked up to him. But tragically, Phoenix died of a drug overdose.

In an interview Hawke said, “Drugs and alcohol and depression are formidable opponents all over the world. People think getting what you want will make you happy, but a sense of self, purpose, and love don’t come from the outside. You can’t get distracted by this culture that celebrates things that sometimes aren’t what they seem.”

If you look to this culture or this world to find answers or fulfillment, you will come up empty. But Jesus is sufficient to meet whatever need you have in your life.

I love this description of Jesus in Isaiah 9:6, which I think sums up what Christmas is about: “For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given; and the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace” (NKJV).

“His name will be called Wonderful.” That takes care of the dullness of life. The word wonderful comes from the root word wonder.

Jesus is wonderful, amazing, astonishing, bewildering, and beyond our human comprehension. Going back to the root word wonder, the best way to describe Him is “awesome.” We hear that word a lot, which people use to describe all sorts of things, from cars to tacos.

Yet it’s really a word that we should reserve for God alone. He’s awe inspiring. He’s wonderful. And when you have a relationship with Him, He will add meaning and purpose to your life.

There’s nothing this world offers that will satisfy a person who’s created to know God. For all of us, His name can be Wonderful.