| I‘m dumping my old address book for a new one. I can’t believe how many names I’ve accumulated over the years. Some of them I don’t even recognize. I’ve inked circles around the names of special friends, underlined relatives, and asterisked doctors and hospitals. But who are those people whose names I’ve crossed out? I have no idea.
I’m relieved that God’s Book of Life doesn’t resemble my address book, with all its erasures and unreadable names in smeared or faded ink. Revelation 20:11-12 describes God’s book: “Then I saw a great white throne and him who was seated on it. Earth and sky fled from his presence, and there was no place for them. And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Another book was opened, which is the book of life. The dead were judged according to what they had done as recorded in the books.”
Unlike some address books, God’s isn’t collecting dust. It’s in use. And once your name is recorded, once you are listed under C—for “child of God”—you’ll never have to worry about the Lord ripping out your page in disgust over some sin or blotting out your name out of sheer disgust. And thankfully, the Book of Life isn’t jam-packed with names that Jesus can’t remember.
Names on honor rolls, the Hollywood Walk of Fame, stained-glass windows, and brass plaques are all too quickly forgotten. Not so with the Book of Life. If your name is entered in God’s book—and it is if you claim Jesus as your Savior and Lord and live like it—take a moment right now to praise the Lord for this wonderful fact. Praise him also that he has written your name in permanent ink—the blood of his Son. And thank him that there are no erasers in heaven.
Empower me to live as a child of the King should, dear Lord. I want you to fill that space beside my name with the righteous acts of a genuine saint. |
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