“Anyone with ears to hear must listen to the Spirit and understand what he is saying to the churches. To everyone who is victorious I will give some of the manna that has been hidden away in heaven. And I will give to each one a white stone, and on the stone will be engraved a new name that no one understands except the one who receives it.” Revelation 2:17
There is a connection between overcoming and repentance. Victory can only be experienced as changes are made in our lives. Change is the outcome of justification, which leads to intimacy with God and thereby, in Messiah, becoming a new creation. Complete dependence on God.
Possibly the new name given to us on the stone will be the way God sees us. God does not see as the world sees. God sees our most private struggles, temptations, failures, battles, and victories. God designed us and made us with His loving hand. The name given by God is the name that will lead us to God’s promises. God changed Abram’s name to Abraham, Sarai’s to Sarah, Jacob’s to Israel and Simon’s to Peter. Through those names God gave new beginnings, new hopes, and new blessings.
God placed a vessel of manna into the Ark of the Covenant. (Hebrews 9:4) The commandments and Aaron’s rod were also placed in the Ark. There is a relationship between these things. It’s only when we are nourished by God, manna being supernatural food, that we are able to observe, walk in and obey the commandments. Manna was given to the children of Israel in the wilderness. They would never have been able to make that journey without what God provided – this manna. We will never be able to overcome Satan’s stronghold, and give witness, if we relied on our own strength and abilities to do so.
This whole passage is dealing with change. When there is no opposition it is easy to rely on yourself and do “what is right in your own eyes”. If we run from spiritual battles, we will not be prepared for the last days. We need to, as new creations, have the mind of Christ. This is the greatest weapon against the enemy. Victory is found in depending upon Jesus Christ.