IS YOUR NAME WRITTEN DOWN

“And they shall bring the glory and the honor of all nations into it. But there shall by no means enter it anything that defiles, or causes an abomination or a lie, but only those who are written in the Lamb’s Book of Life.”  (Revelation 21:26-27)

In Revelation 21 we read about a new heaven and a new earth.  John writes about seeing the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. As Christians we long for this New Jerusalem!  We read there will be no death, no sorrow, no crying, no pain, for former things will have passed away.  But only those who are written in the Lamb’s Book of Life shall enter the New Jerusalem.

Our names may be found on a lot of books during our lifetime.  Your name may be listed in the membership book of your home church or any number of civic  organizations you may belong to.  Your name is probably written somewhere in a family Bible that lists your family tree.  It is definitely listed by various government entities….Social Security, Voter’s Registration, the IRS tax rolls, DMV, etc. It is easy to get your name in some books.  The difficulty of getting your name in certain books or having it removed can vary.  Regardless of all the places your name may be recorded, there is one place where it is truly a matter of life or death… the Lamb’s Book of Life.

Some believe your name is entered by God at the beginning of time because He knows what choice you will make.  Others believe your name is entered on the day you accept Jesus as Your Savior and still others on the day you are baptized. There are Christians who believe their name can be removed and others who claim the security of eternal salvation.   

In Revelation 3:5, Jesus says, "The one who conquers will be clothed thus in white garments, and I will never blot his name out of the book of life."  The names of those who persevere will remain in the Book of Life. This verse is often interpreted as reference to remaining faithful and not a reference to losing salvation.

Regardless of which camp you are in, we all want our name to be in the Lamb’s Book of Life.  We want Heaven to be our eternal home.  We also agree one day we will all stand before God and the Book will be opened.   It is Jesus our Advocate that will stand with us, claiming us as His own because our names are written in His book.   However, we must remember in Matthew 10:33 Jesus says, "But whoever denies Me before men, I will also deny him before My Father who is in heaven." 

We may not realize it, but our lifestyle may be openly denying Jesus as our Savior. Not only should our lives declare Jesus as our Lord and Savior, others should be able to recognize us a part of the family of God.  Ephesians 5:1-2 says, "Therefore, imitate God, in everything you do, because you are His dear children. Live a life filled with love, following the example of Christ." He gave us His Son as an example of how to live like His child so that one day we will be able to hear Him say, “Welcome home, my child.”  

DLS  11/7/24