What's Your REAL Name?

At the end of Alias Season 4, and the beginning of Season 5 , Michael Vaughn reveals to Sidney (to whom he has recently become engaged after 6 years of being in love) that for starters, Michael Vaughan is not his real name … and then naturally, in the next breath they are in a head on collision before he can explain … No more spoilers from me on that point. But this really made me think about what a real name is. He'd been using that name for at least 10 years or so… he had been that person for all that time, what's not real about that?

They asked me what my Real Name was. Is that the name on my birth certificate? Why should that name be more real than one I may have acquired later? Does being prior make my latter self a liar? The name my parents gave me before they really knew me, why should that be more real? The names I gave myself when I sought to follow the injunction on a pagan temple in Turkey to know myself." The names my friends have given me over the years ... The new identity I was given when I was resurrected…Which one is my real name?

Abram became Abraham and Jacob became Israel. It's real. How much more real could it get?

Simon became Peter when the Lord looked into his heart and into his future, into his destiny, and pronounced him a rock. His new name not only caught up with his new self, the self he was becoming. It framed his future for him, reminded him every time he was called, what his God given destiny was. His new name defined him-gave him clarity when he doubted his purpose. The real name of his old self was Simon. His real name after he met the Master was definitely Peter. And when everything has been fulfilled, he will receive yet another name, a secret name on a little white stone, a new name in glory, one that defines his unique relationship with his Creator. As will you and as will I.