White Stone

To him who overcomes, I will give some of the hidden manna. I will also give him a white stone with a new name written on it, known only to him who receives it. ~ Revelation 2:17

A couple of years ago, I wrote a short story called S.A.M. It's the story of a girl with pain in her past, and she just can't seem to let go of it all. One day, she's visited by an angel named Sam. Well, Sam tells the girl her story, which is very similar to the girl's story, about how she used to carry her baggage around until Jesus rescued her and she left all her baggage at the cross. The girl said that was what she wanted, too. The angel told the girl that once she gave everything over to the Lord, that He would change her and give her a new name. So the girl dragged her baggage up a hill and hurled it over to Jesus and when she turned around, she had her new identity intact. The girl became known as SAM, Saved And Mended.

When God makes changes in our lives, they won't be so small as to go unnoticed. God wants the world to know that He's responsible for the changes in you. That's what He did when He changed Abram and Sari. We read the story of Abram and Sari in Genesis. When God called them forth for His purposes, and they submitted to His Will, God gave them new names. He said from that time forward, Abram (exalted father) would be known as Abraham (father of a multitude, or father of many nations), and Sari (princely) would be known as Sarah (queen of princes), (see Genesis 17:5, 15).

The white stone that is referred to in this scripture is significant. In the days of the ancient world, when they would have had public games, it was the victor or conqueror to whom the white stone, on which his name was inscribed, was bestowed. The white stone was a public proclamation of the victor, the conqueror, the "overcomer". Jesus wants to bestow that stone upon us. Now, Jesus warns us that the road to being an overcomer will not be easy. In fact, the easy road leads to our death, demise, and destruction, (see Matthew 7:13-14). But Jesus has also said that when we walk with Him and follow His guidance, He will show us the way to victory, (see Matthew 11:30; John 16:33).

The last thing this scripture talks about is the "hidden manna." The Greek word for "hidden" is "krypto," meaning concealed. And "manna" is "that which is kept in the heavenly temple..for the blessed." Proverbs 25:2 says "It is the glory of God to conceal a matter, but the honor of kings to search it out." To him who overcomes, to kings and men of honor, God will reveal the secrets that are kept in His heavenly temple. God blesses all His children, but He reserves the hidden treasures for those who search it out and overcome the battle.

God has laid before us a promise: If we will overcome this battle, He will be gracious and reward us with the secrets He keeps in His heavenly temple. Not only that, but He will also proclaim to the world that we are victors and we are His. This road to victory starts with one small step: ours.