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The day I wrote this, I voted in an election. I traveled to the voting place and selected my choices on a machine. When finished, the machine printed a ballot that I inserted into a scanner which counted it. The ancient Greeks also voted, but didn’t use a machine. They used colored pebbles. They used the pebbles for elections and for jury trials. When a jury voted, white pebbles were votes for acquittal. Using a black pebble cast a vote to convict.
Revelation 2:17 mentions a white stone. It is the word for a voting pebble. The passage says, “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. 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.” (NIV)
The church mentioned in the preceding verses experienced persecution, but never renounced Jesus. Yet they compromised their faith. They were sexually immoral and ate meat sacrificed to idols. They believed in Jesus, but compromised in these areas. Jesus warned them to repent and promised the white stone if they overcame. The new name on the stone likely refers to Jesus’ name.
We must overcome any compromises of faith. We must follow Jesus in all areas of life. He will acquit us if we trust and obey.
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Bumper music “Landing Place” performed by Mark July, used under license from Shutterstock.