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a white stone

January 23, 2013 By Sandra Heska King

new name, white stone, Revelation 3:17

 

I’m fascinated with a small white stone.

Polished edges, satin slick.

But with a small crack and a teeny gouge on the underside.

Or maybe it’s the top. Who really knows with a stone?

I roll the stone in one palm and then the other. Feel how my thumb and fingers fit into the smooth curves.

I take it with me outside and hold it up to sun, compare it to snow sparkle.

I think of the Revelation stones.

Like amethysts and sapphires and emeralds and rubies.

But then there’s a white stone.

Plain ole. Plain ole.

Or is it?

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. ~Revelation 2:17

Frankly, I’d prefer a deep green emerald or a stunning blue sapphire.

Thank you very much.

Or would I?

I look it up and find the Greek word for stone here is psephos, and it’s only used twice in the New Testament. Here and Acts 26:10 where it’s translated as “vote.”

And that is just what I did in Jerusalem. On the authority of the chief priests I put many of the Lord’s people in prison, and when they were put to death, I cast my vote against them. ~Paul in Acts 26:10

These small, worn pebbles apparently had several uses.

They were used in elections. Voters were given white stones and black stones. A white stone was a vote of acceptance, and a black stone was a vote of rejection.

In courts of justice, a black stone meant a vote for condemnation, for death. A white stone meant a vote for acquittal, for life.

A white stone might have served as a ticket for admission to some event, like a special banquet.

The winner of an athletic event might receive a white stone–perhaps even with the name of the event or the victor inscribed on it.

And this white Revelation stone? It’s not just white. It’s whiter than pure snow. Whiter than I can bleach my white robe.

It shimmers and shines. Dazzles the eye with a brilliance like Jesus’ clothes at His transfiguration.

As I play with the stone, I ponder this name, the name that only I will know.

What will it be? Perhaps a pet name, an endearing name, an intimate name that He calls nobody else? Something that signifies our special relationship?

Will He place the stone on a diamond-studded chain around my neck where I can reach up and touch it at every thought of Him? Will I run giddy crazy into His arms when I see Him? Will He lean close and whisper my name, my new name?

I shut my eyes against the sun, against the snow, against the world and hold the stone between between both hands and intertwine my fingers, feel the cool. I try to imagine the banquet hall, the marriage supper, walking hand in hand along the water’s edge, my Bridegroom and me.

I am my Beloved’s, and my Beloved is mine.

And He’s given me a stone that proclaims victory and freedom, acceptance and love, entrance and righteousness, life and everlasting joy.

So I’m thinking, yes. I’d rather have a white stone more than the largest and brightest gemstone in heaven.

Thank you very much.

In the stillness,

Sandy

From the archives

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Comments

  1. Maureen says

    January 23, 2013 at 9:54 am

    I have a white stone that sits on my dresser – a gift from our youngest son. It has whole new meanings now, new beauty, new value.

    • Louise G. says

      January 23, 2013 at 9:59 am

      I too have a white stone – it is always in my purse. Always with me. and it too has added meanings now — new beauty and value.

      Lovely post.

      • Sandra says

        January 23, 2013 at 9:20 pm

        Both of you are as beautiful and valuable to Him as the most extravagant jewels.

  2. Martha Orlando says

    January 23, 2013 at 10:41 am

    I, too, would prefer the white stone over any amount of gems now that you have so beautifully described its awesome meaning. Wonderful post!

    • Sandra says

      January 23, 2013 at 9:23 pm

      Thank you, friend. You always encourage me.

  3. Kristin says

    January 23, 2013 at 12:11 pm

    I wrote a post about this too:) I am looking forward to my white stone and hearing my new name that only He and I know. . .how special that we will all have that intimacy with Him and yet all praising together. Heaven will be . . .Heaven! 🙂

    • Sandra says

      January 23, 2013 at 9:24 pm

      Now I have to go find that post.

      Heaven will be …Heaven. I can only imagine. 🙂

  4. Carol J. Garvin says

    January 23, 2013 at 12:42 pm

    I’m forever collecting stones, especially on the beach where I’m keeping my eyes open for bits of coloured sea glass. Instead it’s often those pure white stones, all tumbled and smooth, that stand out in stark contrast to all the grey stones and sand on the beach and call me to bend and add them to my collection. I’ll think differently of those ones now. 🙂

    • Sandra says

      January 23, 2013 at 9:27 pm

      Interesting how smoothing requires some tumbling… 🙂

  5. Megan Willome says

    January 24, 2013 at 5:13 pm

    You just made me smile.

  6. Susan says

    January 26, 2013 at 10:38 am

    LOVED reading this post about the white stone that we will hold someday. Thank you for writing what I’ve been thinking about!

    Susan

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