Revelation 2:17
“He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the hidden manna, and will give him a white stone, and in the stone a new name written, which no man knoweth saving he that receiveth it.”
The Roman empire has been known for its sporting events. One of the common customs of the Roman emperors was to attend these sporting events. They say that when two men competed against each other, the victor was given a white stone from the Roman emperor with the insignia of the emperor and the name of the victor engraved on the stone. This white stone gave the victor much credence in his society for everyone knew that this stone meant that he was in favor of the emperor.
In the verse above, God promised the Christian a white stone if they overcame. This white stone is the equivalence of the white stone given from the Roman emperor; instead, this stone is given by God Himself to the Christian. This stone meant that the Christian is in favor with God. This stone meant that the Christian was given a name by God that was special to that person and God. This name is the equivalent of a parent giving their child a special name that no one else understands, but it is the loving name a parent uses with their child. If there is anything you should desire from God, it is this white stone which He will give you. As I look at this, there are several things that we can take from the white stone.
First, God never said that we would not fail on the way to overcoming. God did not say that He would give the white stone to the one who never failed; rather, God said that He would give the stone to the one who overcame. That means you can fail in life and still receive the white stone as long as you get up and keep going until you overcome.
Second, God never said we had to be the best to get the white stone. I love this because I know that I am not the best at what I do, but I don’t have to be the best, I just have to overcome. Friend, God is not expecting you to be the most talented or gifted. He simply is expecting you to overcome. There are most likely many other people who are better than you in many areas, but you can still receive the white stone from God if you will overcome.
Third, God never said that you would not want to quit along the way. Friend, there are going to be times when you want to quit, but if you overcome you will receive the white stone. Yes, you will become weary in well doing, but if you overcome the white stone will be given to you.
Fourth, God never said that you had to win to get the white stone. He said that you simply had to overcome. I love this because this would mean that any Christian can receive the white stone from God if they simply cross the finish line. You may be the last person to cross the finish line, but you can still receive the white stone from God. Others may finish a long time before you, but you simply have to overcome and cross the finish line. God simply says you need to overcome to get the coveted white stone given to you.
Christian, do you feel that it is worthless for you to continue on because you are not going to win? Let me encourage you that God simply says that you must overcome to get the white stone. I don’t know what is beating you down today, but you must keep on going and overcome whatever you face. God simply wants you to finish. Your desire should be to stand and receive the prize of the white stone with your name engraved with God’s. You may want to quit right now, but let me encourage you to keep going for there is a white stone waiting for you when you overcome.