I picked up a small white stone from the clear waters of a jungle river during a recent trip to the Amazon basin. It’s sitting on a shelf below the bathroom mirror, reminding me of the white stone in the book of Revelation that has a new name written on it. 

I’ve spent a good deal of time reading through Bible commentaries trying to figure out the meaning of the white stone and what the new name might be, and I’ve found so many different interpretations that I’ve concluded only God knows for sure.  

What I HAVE discovered is that names are important to God. Several people, including Jesus, John the Baptist, Solomon, and even Persian King Cyrus were named by God himself before they were born. Others, like Abraham, Sarah, and Paul, received new names from God to mark a life-changing moment in their personal histories. 

Have you ever, like me, felt like you lost an important little piece of yourself when you moved overseas and had to use a different name? I’ve always been glad that I like Raquel, the Spanish version of Rachel, but I haven’t been quite as thrilled to hear friends try to pronounce the shortened version of my English name. I’ve been called everything from Rich and Reich to Witch! I’m glad to know that my actual name is important to God. So important, in fact, that he not only called me by name, but has written my name in the Book of Life (Rev. 3:5). And none of this would even be possible without the fact that there is saving power in HIS name! 

The next time I look at my small white stone from the Amazon, I won’t try to figure out every possible theological interpretation for the white stone in Revelation 2. But I will take a minute to thank God for knowing my name, for calling me by my name, and for promising me whatever gift that white stone represents if I remain true to HIS name.