When the kids were much younger, we moved to Tucson Arizona and lived there for a year. There were two boys who lived next door to us. They were older than my son Ben who was almost four at the time. The brothers were always fighting. They loved to play with Ben. One day the oldest boy came running in with Ben in his arms. One of the brothers threw a sizable rock at the other and hit Ben in the forehead with it. He had a huge gash and blood was streaming out. We rushed him to a clinic and they stitched him up. “Sticks and stones may break my bones; but names will never hurt me.”
“He said to them, ‘He who is without a sin among you, let him throw a stone at her.’ Those who heard Him, being convinced in their own conscience, went away one by one, until they all had dropped their stones and walked away. Only Jesus and the sinner were left. He said to her, ‘Where are your accusers? Who is left to condemn you and call you names?’ “No man, Lord,” she said. “Neither do I condemn you. Go in Peace.” John 8:7-11
I’ve been called every name in the book. I have deserved the names. I have thrown stones and created bloody gashes in other’s hearts. The dumbo sheep know what I’m talking about. What peace can there be with guilt? Only temporary peace. Only distractions from the torment. It’s a little easier to find pretend peace if you are relatively successful in life. A good person, so to speak. There’s a strange story in the Old Testament about lepers. The worst name you could be called. It made you an outcast.
“And the leper in whom the plague is. . .he shall cry, ‘Unclean, unclean. He shall dwell alone. However, if the leprosy covers all the skin, from head to toe, not just a spot here and a spot there, if the leprosy covers all his flesh, the priest will pronounce him clean.” Leviticus 13:12-13. The Lilies are totally intoxicated right now with His Fragrance. His scent was a scent of forgiveness, when they were at their worst. . .from head to toe. “She who has been forgiven much, she loves much.” The priest pronounced the leper totally clean, no condemnation ever again. Perfect Peace.
One of my favorite hymns is “Rock of Ages”. Rock of Ages, cleft for me, Let me hide myself in Thee. . .nothing in my hand I bring, simply to Your cross, I cling. . . Foul, I to the Fountain fly, Wash me Savior or I die.” The Rock. A Rock of Peace. The sheep love this song about a Place to hide from guilt and condemnation. A Refuge of Peace. They know that on that Solid Rock they stand. All other ground is sinking sand. And, they know that they are a “chip off the Old Block”.
Are your ears open, little Dumbos? Ready to be swept off your feet with His fragrance, sweet Lilies? And those of you with eagle eyes, are you ready to soar above the colors of the Rainbow and see the Riches of His Love? “He that has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the sheep. To him that I enable to overcome, I will feed him with Good Food from My Love. And, I will give him a White Stone and in that Stone a new name will be written by My Own Hand.” Revelation 2:17 He writes, “My Love.” He writes His own Name on them.
A White Stone. A chip off the Rock of Ages. Union with Him. Like Him. The word, “white” in the New Testament Greek language, means: perfectly white; Light. Only this reality results in Perfect Peace. Always, and only white. Always and only Light. A new name written by the Trinity of God before time for every sheep of the flock. Chosen by the Father. Made white by the Son. Seeing the Light and being Light, the work of the Holy Spirit. A White Christmas indeed.
A Good Moment 