In The Book
I remember when I was a young boy, we had a family Bible. It was a very large, leather-bound, antique-looking Bible. When you opened that Bible, each member of our family’s name was written in it, going back to great-grandparents. Our full name, where and when we were born, was recorded in it. Just seeing that gave me a sense of belonging. That was a very tangible indication I was part of a family.
As meaningful as that was, there’s another place my name is written. It is more important that it be there than anywhere else. You see, there are books in heaven. Very important books!
Revelation 20:11 Then I saw a great white throne and Him who sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away. And no place was found for them. 12 And I saw the dead, small and great, standing before God, and books were opened. Another book, the Book of Life, was opened. And the dead were judged according to their works, by the things which were written in the books. 13 The sea gave up the dead who were in it, and Death and Hades delivered up the dead who were in them. And they were judged, each one according to his works. 14 Then Death and Hades were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. 15 And anyone not found written in the Book of Life was cast into the lake of fire.
Heaven keeps a record of what those who are lost have done in books. The lost will give an account before God for their unbelief and then be offered proof from the books of their manifestation of that unbelief. There will never be an unjust judgment proceeding from the throne. However, notice that those found in the Book of Life are good to go!
The New Jerusalem will only be occupied by those found in a specific book as well.
Revelation 20:27 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.
It appears there is a special privilege given to anyone found written in the Lamb’s Book of Life.
Only those with the heavenly DNA of new birth in Christ Jesus will be found in that book.
John 3:6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. 7 Do not marvel that I said to you, “You must be born again.’
Going to church can’t save a person; good deeds don’t save someone, and keeping the law can’t save anyone because none of these things, as good as they may seem to be, have the power to make a new creation in Jesus Christ. Dogooders look okay to other people seeing them, but God is looking for the seal of inheritance that is the proof their name has been written in the Lamb’s Book of Life.
2 Timothy 2:19 Nevertheless, God’s solid foundation stands with this seal: “The Lord knows those who are His,” and “Let everyone who names the name of Christ depart from iniquity.”
Those who belong to Christ Jesus and have been made new creations in Him experience an ongoing transformation in life. They enjoy knowing Jesus and find that their old life can no longer satisfy them. I am glad that my name is in the Lamb’s Book of Life. Just as that old family Bible made me confident of my earthly heritage, that special book in heaven makes me confident of my position in Christ! I’m in the book!
