Pergamum

There’s a symbol in John’s address to the Church at Pergamum that I think merits some deeper thought.

A white stone with a new name written on it is given to those who overcome. If you think about it giving a name to anything gives it more significance. Growing up if you had a favorite toy I bet it had a name weather it was a doll or a car or truck. I know I had a favorite toy car that I called super car (not real original). When I talked about other cars or trucks they would be the yellow one or the blue one but when we talked about my favorite it was super car. The Bible tells us that Adam gave names to all the animals which meant they then had significance in God’s kingdom. Think about to having a conversation about ants. If you are just talking in general about ants all ants could have the same name ants. However if you’re talking about your house being infested you might narrow it down to carpenter ants because they are currently more significant than all the others. When a baby is born and given a name, generally after much deliberation by its parents, it then has a place of significance. It‘s given a birth certificate and, at least in the U.S. , recorded with the state. I’ve heard of cultures that think the naming is so significant that they didn’t name a baby until it was two years old so they could see what the baby’s name should be.

So, being given a name by God is not an insignificant event it says that we are significant in God’s sight not just some other soul among the many who will be with God in eternity. I know we can’t treat large numbers of people as if they are each significant but God can. It‘s a little concerning to think God might give us names based on our lives here on earth. I’d hate to go through eternity with a name like Lazy Boy or backslider or worse. But, I’ll take whatever just to be eternally in God’s presence.

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