Book of Life

I love books. I even love electronic books. I downloaded one book that has 50 autobiographies in it. That one will take a while to read. God likes books too. His first one was written with his own finger. Who needs chisels, pens, quills, ink, paper, or pencils when you can write with your finger on stone? God co-authored another 66 books we call the Bible. Revelation says one day the books will be opened (20:12) and one is called the Book of Life in which are recorded all the names of the saved. How would you like to check that book out of God's library for a few days? Who would you look up first? I hope they are alphabetized, and have social security numbers. I would hate to find Rod Myers only to find out it was the other Rod Myers. When the 72 returned from their mission with the freshness of successfully casting out demons dancing in their heads, Jesus told them that there was something a little more important that being able to cast out demons. In fact you could be an exorcist and Jesus still not know you (Matt.7). It is much more important for our names to be recorded in heaven. If that doesn't excite your imagination I don't know what would.

Moses once asked God to forgive his fellow Israelites' sins and if not to just blot his name out of the book (Ex.32:32). Moses, are you nuts? Paul said a similar thought in Romans 9:3ff. I've thought about it. Not me. If my name is there, leave it alone. Fortunately for Moses God would only blot out those who had sinned. King David asked God to blot some folks out of the book, i.e. those who hated him without a cause. (Psa. 69:28) This was the opposite of what Moses said. Isaiah may be referring to this book in 4:3 when he talks of the remnant, "everyone who is recorded for life in Jerusalem." If not THE book of life, it was at least A book of life. Ezekiel says a similar thing about the false prophets who were not recorded  in the registry of the house of Israel (13:9). Daniel refers to those who are found in the book being rescued (12:1). Whether all these books are synonymous with the book of life, they seem like pretty important books, and I hope whoever is keeping the books knows what they are doing.

In the New Testament Paul refers to those who names are in the book of life in Phil.4:3 as fellow workers who have struggled in the cause of Christ. The Hebrew writer refers to the firstborn ones who are enrolled in heaven. Revelation has the most references to the book of life. In Rev.3:5 Jesus says the one who overcomes will be clothed in white garments and his name will not be erased from the book of life, and Jesus will confess those names to His Father. Those who worship the beast will not find their names in the book of life and the Lamb, names which have been written there from the foundation of the world (13:8; 17:8). In Rev.20:12-15 shows the judgment scene with one of the books being the book of life. Those whose names were not recorded there were cast into the lake of fire. And in Rev.21:27 we learn that the only ones coming into the Holy City (which I believe is the church) are those whose names are written in the Lamb's book of life.

"When the roll is called up yonder..." It is sobering thought to think that there is a list of names in heaven that comprises the entire number of those who are saved, and that it is critical that my name be on that list, and that it is possible for it to be erased (blotted out). Could there be any more important roster to be on? No matter how many rolls your name may be on, to miss your name being in this book makes everything else meaningless. Close your eyes and imagine when your name was recorded there. What decision did you make that tells you that your name is there? Imagine God picking up His pen and writing your name in His book. Imagine a circumstance when he might pick up His eraser and remove your name? But, imagine the peace and assurance you have to know that your name is recorded and one day it will be read, and Jesus will confess your name before the Father.