A New Name

” I will also give that person a white stone with a new name written on it.”

I’ve had Revelation 2:17 in a note on my phone for over a year now. It jumped out at me at some point as I was reading through the final book of the Bible, and I hurriedly typed it in an attempt to remind myself that it meant something. It stirred something inside me.

I do this a lot. Make a note when something stops me in my tracks. When a word or phrase startles me or makes me feel a thing I hadn’t felt before.

 

Last night I couldn’t sleep so I read through Revelation 2 again. Obviously, in this chapter Jesus is talking to seven ancient churches, praising them for what they’re doing well and calling them out on what they’re not. As we approach our target verse, He begins speaking to the church of Pergamum.

Pergamum was a thriving and wealthy city and many Christians lived there. But it was also a city filled with pagan worship and false teachings. Jesus commended some believers who had remained faithful to Him, even in the midst of persecution and the martyrdom of one of their own. But He also reprimanded those who had succumbed to pagan rituals and false teachers. And then we come to the full text of Revelation 2:17:

“Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who is victorious, I will give some of the hidden manna. I will also give that person a white stone with a new name written on it, known only to the one who receives it.”

I read somewhere that, in ancient courts, a black stone was given to a criminal who was guilty and condemned while a white stone was given to the one found innocent. The one set free. I love this picture. We don’t have to do anything to be given God’s grace of salvation. All we need to do is believe in Jesus and follow Him.

I also once heard that, in ancient Olympic games, a white stone would be given to the victor. Again, this is a beautiful picture for us. If we stay true to our faith and walk with Jesus even in the temptations and difficult times, we become victorious.

I don’t actually know if either of these scenarios are what the author of Revelation was writing about, but it’s interesting to ponder the cultural context and what it might mean for us.

The “new name” thing, though. I think that’s what jumped out the most when I read this verse.

In the Bible, God renames many people. Abram becomes Abraham, Sarai becomes Sarah, Jacob becomes Israel, Simon becomes Peter. God renames them because He sees in them their potential. I love this!

I’ve been thinking a lot about our Jillienne lately. She’s been home with us for five years now and for all intents and purposes, she’s acclimated well to our family and her new life. Yet I still see glimpses of her past.  I don’t know her story, and it’s not really mine to tell. But we do know she was abandoned at about 3 days old.

Abandoned.

Her first identity.

 

She lived in an orphanage for the first 19 months of her life, then we came along to take her from the only home she’d ever known.

Stolen. 

Her second identity.

 

As she’s grown, she still remains overly attached to me. She doesn’t love it when I’m out of her sight. She wants to please everyone in her life – parents, siblings, friends, teachers – because, in her mind, she will be abandoned again if she isn’t perfect.

Fearful.

Her third identity.

 

Yet, all I want for her is to feel loved. Accepted. Cherished.

Beloved child of God.

I want her to embody this beautiful new identity. To believe it deep down in her soul. To be able to live freely in this truth. That’s my prayer for her.

 

What is your prayer right now? What old name do you need to toss away, and what new name do you need to put on? Believe that God has a good plan for you, Friend. That He loves and cherishes you. And step into the name He’s given to you.