Have you ever allowed a memory to become a powerful illustration of an eternal truth? I have. Take, for example, a couple of memories I have of the the old show, “Leave it to Beaver.” On it's web site, I found the following statement: “...The show was created by Joe Connelly and Bob Mosher, who found inspiration for the show's characters, plots, and dialogue in the lives, experiences, and conversations of their own children.” In fact, they once admitted that they followed their own kids around, with pad and pencil in hand, taking notes!
Now that may not mean much to you, but that really brings back memories for me. You see, I remember that my Dad got the biggest kick out of that show, and quite often, he would say, “Boy, the writers of this show must have kids!” Ha—I guess it's true then—”Father Knows Best!” I remember one particular episode where the Beaver and his buddy bought a sliding coin trick that made the coin disappear—just like the one I had—and were amazed at how everybody they pulled it on knew all about it. So, they ramped it up a bit—with a little neighbor boy as their audience, they made Beaver disappear, leaving a stone in his place. That's right—a stone!
For the whole rest of the show, the little boy was absolutely convinced that Beaver was now a stone—he talked to it, he slept with it, he hauled it around in his wagon, and he even tried to feed it—but he couldn't find the Beaver's mouth. It got to be such a problem for the little boy's mother, Beaver had to cut a visit to his aunt short in order to prove to the little boy that he was not a stone. What eternal truth could this possibly illustrate? Well, for me, it reminds me of a man who did become a stone—not magically or by trickery, but miraculously—and that man, believe it or not, was Jesus. But first, let me be very clear, the Bible is filled with the imagery of stones—Jacob made a stone his pillow; many buildings had a stone foundation that began with a cornerstone; stone dressing and masonry were recognized trades throughout Bible-times; stones were used in fighting, as Goliath found out; stone pillars, monuments, and landmarks were quite common; and being stoned to death was a frequent means of execution. With so many uses for stones in such a rocky place as Israel, is it so hard to see how it could be applied to the Lord Jesus Christ? Chris Tiegreen, in his devotional book, “Walk with God,” writes, “Jesus was no stranger to Old Testament imagery. His Spirit had inspired it, and His humanity had been educated in it.”
Back in the Old Testament, the prophet Daniel interpreted a dream. The Babylonian king, Nebuchadnezzar had a vision of a giant statue, each part of which represented a coming kingdom of the world—following the current kingdom would come the Medo-Persians, the Greeks, the Romans, and finally—that's right, finally—that is, the final one, a Revived Roman Empire! That's right—the times in which we live right now! Each kingdom is represented by a different type of metal, in descending order of value—gold, silver, brass, and iron. The last one, however, is pictured as feet made with both iron and clay. In the last days, when the Messiah ushers in His universal reign, He is coming as a stone. A stone? Yes, in the dream, a huge, huge rock breaks off of the mountain and rolls down towards this great statue. Striking it in it's iron and clay feet, the statue is utterly destroyed, and the rock is seen for what it really is—a rock as big as a mountain. Yes, the “Stone” will, in the end, destroy this entire world system, and He Himself will become a very great mountain that even fills the earth. That, my friends, is a promise—a promise of God's rule and reign, carved in stone!
Did not Christ refer to Himself as a Stone? Following His quintessential parable of the tenants, Jesus said, “Did ye never read in the Scriptures, The stone which the builders rejected, the same is become the head of the corner: this is the Lord's doing, and it is marvelous in our eyes? Therefore say I unto you, The Kingdom of God shall be taken from you, and given to a nation bringing forth the fruits thereof. And whosoever shall fall on this stone shall be broken: but on whomsoever it shall fall, it will grind him to powder.” (Matthew 21:42-44) This is not a trick—it is reality! Those that stumble and fall over His call to die to self and be humble before God—as many do today—will find themselves laid out flat on the ground. If they will humble themselves and repent, they can—and will be—recovered by His resurrected life. BUT, if they trip over Him and stay stubborn, not allowing themselves to be picked up by the miracle of new life, the stone will fall upon them, pulverizing them into dust with no way to be reconstituted. Yes, another promise!
Now remember—when Christ described Himself as the stone rejected by the builders, the builders, of course, were the Jews, who totally discounted His claims to be the Messiah. But—Praise God—the despised Stone actually became the Headstone of the Corner—the most important part of the building, for it keeps everything straight and true. One commentator suggests, “Christ is called the Cornerstone because, as the cornerstone unites in itself the first two walls, so also Christ unites in Himself two peoples—the Jews and the Gentiles, and by faith, makes them one.” All through the Old Testament, Israel is called to be a light to the Gentiles. With pagans all around—Amorite, Hittite, Jebusite, and Amalakite—there was but one “light” to shine on all the “ites.” But through the years, Israel came to see itself as the only people God even cared about. So the call went out to the Gentiles—by way of the Church—to shine the light of Jesus Christ throughout this sin-darkened world; to call one and all—Gentile and Jew—to the Cross of Calvary. To all who harden their hearts like stone and refuse His loving overtures of mercy, He will be the crushing Stone of Judgment (Mt. 21:44). Promise? Warning? Are they not really the same thing?
We have seen some Stones of Promise, now let's turn our attention in the end of the Bible—the Book of Revelation—to see the Stone of Reward. For those who overcome in the fight of faith, Christ promises, “...a white stone, and in the stone a new name written, which no man knoweth save he that receiveth it.” (2:17) Sir William Ramsey, in his book, “The Seven Churches,” suggests this white stone to be a “tessera.” It is a little cube made of stone, ivory, or some other substance, on which words or symbols could be engraved. Walter Scott, in his “Exposition of Revelation,” writes, “A white stone was largely employed in the social life and judicial custom of the ancients. Days of festivity were noted by a white stone; days of calamity by a black stone. A white stone meant acquittal; a black stone, condemnation in the courts of justice. A host's appreciation of a special guest was indicated by a white stone with a name or message written on it.” I believe it is this last illustration that speaks to the current context, and therefore, is the most memorable.
You see, since this stone is white, it speaks of something positive, something pure, and something precious. Revelation 3:12 gives us a clue—”Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go no more out: and I will write upon him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, which is New Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven from my God: and I will write upon him my new name.” Remember—both this Scripture, as well as the previous one, were written to the Churches. Yes, the overcoming Christian is promised a white stone with something quite precious written upon it, but that only comes by virtue of Christ's intimate relationship with the overcoming Body of Christ. You cannot separate the two! You cannot say you love Jesus, and withhold your whole heart from His people. This stone of reward is a very powerful expression of the Lord's personal delight in His true Church first, and secondly, in each and every one that goes the whole way with Him. This new name signifies Christ, who is known in a very special, a very peculiar, and a very deep way, and that, most certainly, is a very precious reward that is far beyond all price. Yes, the author of this gospel story does have a “kid,” and He loves us so much he wants us to be conformed to His image. It's not a trick; it's a miracle—surrender and submit! Don't leave it to Beaver; leave it to the Lord Jesus!
