“To the one who is victorious, I will give some of the hidden manna. I will also give that person a white stone with a new name written on it, known only to the one who receives it.” (Revelation 2:17)
Is this not a word of eternal encouragement for you to keep on keeping on this day and to endure until you cross the finish line of faith? If we understand this word rightly, our hearts will be stirred unto zeal for the things of our Lord. Our hearts will beat joyfully for Jesus and the glory of His name, regardless of the cost or circumstance.
When John was given this vision of the Lord Jesus Christ, the words “hidden manna” were designed to give him (and us) an echo of the forty years the people of God spent wandering in the wilderness after being freed from their bondage in Egypt. They were in a place were there was no food, yet our Lord gave them manna from heaven to sustain them each day throughout their entire 40 years in the wilderness.
But John has something else in view for us. Thanks to God’s grace, we are made victorious in this life and are invited to sit at the table of our Lord. But it gets even better than that! The “hidden manna” we will be given to eat is our Lord Jesus Christ Himself. He was the manna of the wilderness and He is our “hidden manna” today. Regardless of where this message finds you — whether you are standing atop the mountain of God in joyous victory or slogging sadly through the valley of defeat, Jesus is your “hidden manna” who sustains us in every season of our lives.
Jesus is our shelter. Jesus is our shield. He is our source of strength and sustenance. He fights our battles and He gives us victory. And He has promised that He Himself is the ultimate reward of the righteous. I believe John also wanted us to remember these words from the apostle Paul: “We are more than conquerors through him who loved us” (Romans 8:37). Paul was speaking to believers who were facing incredible difficulties and hardships in life, ranging from persecution to imprisonment and even to death. So Paul reminded these beleaguered saints to keep their eyes fixed on the One who had overcome everything — even death itself — and who would never allow anything to separate them from the love of God in Christ Jesus.
Believer in the Lord Jesus Christ, this is also your truth today, tomorrow, and forever. Walk in it, by grace through faith. And no matter where this message finds you today, remember this: Greater is the power that is at work within you than any power that will every come up against you!
This is the Gospel. This is grace for your race. NEVER FORGET THAT . . . AMEN!
Grace for the Race 