Revelation 2:12-17

Editor’s Note: If you haven’t done so already, you had probably better read Part 1 and Part 2.

The Promise

Repentance, then, is not really an optional thing. Of course, that does not make it any easier. Fortunately, verse 17 does. Here, Jesus shared three things that he would do if the church at Pergamum repented.

First, he said, “I will give the victor some of the hidden manna.” Manna, of course, was the stuff that God provided to sustain the Israelites as they wandered through the desert after the exodus. This is significant because most of our excuses for compromise involve us losing something: our friends, our family, our money, our job, etc. Jesus, though, promises that, if we will repent, he will provide what we really need.

Second, Jesus promised, “I will also give him a white stone.” In biblical times, there were numerous uses for a white stone. In a court of law, jurors cast a white stone to indicate innocence; Jesus was promising to wipe away the guilt of their compromise and ours. In the athletic games which were so popular throughout the region, a white stone was often handed as an award to the winners. Jesus was promising that, if the Pergamenians would sincerely and earnestly repent, he would grant them victory. Finally, a white stone was often given to those who would be admitted to a great feast. In other words, this was Jesus’ way of saying that, if we truly repent, we will be welcomed to the great heavenly feast as holy champions!

Thirdly, Jesus added, “and on the stone a new name is inscribed.” In Victor Hugo’s musical, Les Miserables, Jean Valjean was sentenced to prison for stealing a loaf of bread to survive. Upon being released, as hard as he tried to be a good and productive person, Valjean found that his name and the associated criminal record prevented him from going anywhere in life. Desperate, he stole some golden candlesticks from the church which tried to help him, and when he was caught by the police, the gracious priest insisted that he had given the candlesticks to Valjean as a gift. With the money he received for those candlesticks, Valjean assumed a new name and, as a result, became a successful businessman and mayor. For the saints of Pergamum, like Valjean, a name represented a person’s identity and character. Also like Valjean, though they might have repented, their tainted, broken, sinful name would still hang around their necks. Jesus, however, assured them and us that, if we will truly repent, he will grant us a new identity which is not tainted by our past compromise, a new character not broken by sin, and the possibility of a real and bright future with him!

And perhaps the best news of all is that all of this starts right now! No, repentance is not easy, but it is worth it! We must repent.

So, do you see the stronghold of compromise in your life? Are there areas where you know today that you have not been perfect or holy? Perhaps you are making excuses to rationalize why you do things that you know are not quite right, not quite in line with Jesus. If this is the case, then the stronghold of compromise has at least begun to dig into your life, and the only way you can overcome it is with plain, simple repentance.