Hello there!  This is a picture of  me at Baby Beach after my first attempt to go snorkeling after my two hip replacements! What a happy feeling it was to go into the shallow waters with the help of my husband, of course, to make sure I would not fall. I gave the legs lots of exercise, and snorkeled a wee bit. So this picture is always a pleasant memory for me!

Today we are going to see what the Scriptures tell us about a certain book called:

THE BOOK OF LIFE

There is something that we are all familiar with in this life, and that is “books”!  From childhood we became familiar of all kinds of books: small books, big books,  thick ones and thin ones, about every imaginable subject and content. From the day we began school, there were books and more books!

Really, without books it is of course quite impossible to advance in the wisdom and knowledge necessary to compete in our world today.  Indeed, wisdom has increased to such an extent that we are and have been using modern technology to progress in the many different studies and branches thereof. In fact we have arrived to the point, it seems, that there is really no further need of books.  If you know which key to click on the computer, you can get a rapid response to your questions; no need of breaking your head with books.

Today I want to present another unique and only book as to its content and quality. No one would have discovered about this book, had the Lord not revealed it to us through His word, the Bible. The very first place we read about this book , is in the Book of Daniel, chapter 12:1-4.  “At that time Michael, the great prince who protects your people, will arise. There will be a time of stress, such as has not happened from the beginning of nations until then. But at that time your people – everyone whose name is found written in the book – will be delivered. Multitudes who sleep in the dust of the earth will awake: some to everlasting life, others to shame and everlasting contempt. Those who are wise will shine like the brightness of heaven, and those who lead many to righteousness, like the stars for ever and ever. Many will go here and there to increase knowledge.”

Then in Luke 10:20, the Lord Jesus encourages His disciples to rejoice that their names are written in heaven. Later the Apostle Paul mentions some women and other brothers and sisters who were contending, together with Paul in the proclamation of the Gospel, whose names are in the book of life. Take a moment here and read Philippians 4:1-3.

It is good for us, beloved brothers and sisters in the Lord, to pay good attention that - having our names written in a church membership book is not the same as that of our names being written in heaven. In a membership book, important as it may be, there may be errors committed. But in the book of life that is in heaven, there can never be error, and I repeat, can never be error.  That is why it is imperative that we pay attention to the warning the Scriptures have for us: “Examen yourselves, to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves ”2 Corinthians 13:5. Take time to read the entire book of Galatians, for it has many warnings for us in this direction.  In Revelations 3:1-6, we read about a very solemn warning given to the church at Sardis.  These members here had a reputation that they were “alive”,  professing to have a relationship with God, when in fact the truth was other. The Lord warns them to repent or receive the due consequences.

Continuing in Revelations 13:1-12, we are warned about a system of false teaching aimed directly against our  God. The result of this system , is that all inhabitants of the earth will fall down and worship what is called “the Beast”, who has received its authority directly from Satan. But the Scripture is telling us here is that the true believers -  all whose names are written in the Lamb’s Book of Life, will not worship this beast.

Please take time to read the above chapter; permit the Holy Spirit of God to speak to us by repenting and admitting our sins of carnality and worldliness to the Lord God, and ask Him to help us obey Him implicitly and without delay. Also, let us not commit double error by exalting ourselves over others, but without any hint of hypocrisy, rather give thanks and praise to our Heavenly Father, through and in the name of Jesus, our Lord and Savior. Amen.

Beginning in the seventeenth chapter of Revelations, this system of religion that will and is already governing our world to this very day, is revealed very clearly. This system will remain in this world till the end, when our Lord and God Almighty will judge it. In the eighteen chapter beginning with verse four till 24, we can read about the final sad end to this religious system.

The in chapter nineteen the celebration of the multitudes in heaven begins with Aleluja! The reason?  What the Scriptures call the Marriage Supper of the Lamb is taking place. The bride, the Church, is dressed in fine linen, bright and pure – for the fine linen are the righteous deeds of the saints. Beloved in the Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ -  today, yes, now is the accepted time to obey from the heart, and with  joy, which is provided for us daily by the Spirit of God, we should be laying up in heaven treasurers where neither moth nor rust can corrupt. 

Then in chapter nineteen of Revelations verses 11- 15, we read of the FINAL judgment of those WHOSE NAMES are not found written in the Lamb’s book of life.  We read that in this final judgment, those who have died,  great and small, will stand before the white throne, and will be judged according to their works. And if anyone’s name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.” (Rev. 20:15)

Dear friends, beloved of God, we need to be grateful that these ever so solemn warnings have been written for us. For today is the day that we can repent of our sin and be reconciled to God through His Son’s reconciliatory death on the cross for us. That we freed from sin might become the righteousness of God in Him (Christ). Because by His wounds we have been healed.

The Lord willing, we will continue this topic in the upcoming blog.

Hi, this is a photo of Bicento and I taken at Camp Washington - a place very special to us. I worked here for 12 years as Camp and Youth Center director; they were wonderful years, unforgettable and rewarding. Today a young couple is living there and taking up management and we are so thankful to God for providing workers for this much needed ministry.

We invite you now to follow with us in a short message about the:

THE WAY OF THE CROSS

During this past Lent Season, we all saw either on television, in the movies, or out in our streets different activities pertaining to the “Way Of The Cross”.  Even here in Aruba people were invited to come and take part in: following the,  “ Way Of The Cross” on different days and places.

Usage of the cross goes way back in history. Many criminals and slaves were crucified on crosses before the time of Christ; it was considered a humiliating and cruel way to die. Even for all the humiliation of a death on the cross, we need to try and understand the victory that our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ accomplished for all humanity on the cross! This victory includes our God, and Father, the Lord Jesus Himself and the Holy Spirit of God. When the Apostle Peter wrote to the believers about the power of God, which is a part of the Gospel, he writes the following” “Peter, an Apostle of Jesus Christ, to the exiles of the Dispersion in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia and Bithynia, who have been chosen and destined by God the Father, and sanctified by the Spirit, to be obedient to Jesus Christ, and to be sprinkled by His blood.” (1 Peter 1:1,2)

We would like to encourage each one of you to read this letter Peter wrote, and take time to read it slowly and meditatively, depending on the Holy Spirit to help us understand what we read and then obey.

In our most recent Blog, we endeavored to explain the true meaning of the words CHRIST and MESIAH, indicating that the two words n fact have the same meaning in relationship to the Holy Spirit of God. Therefore it is important to pay attention when you read the letter written by the Apostle Peter, by noticing how many times the word, “Christ” is mentioned with its due and proper meaning, so that we may understand, with the help of the Holy Spirit the great and costly price that was paid for all of humanity. And this great salvation is offered to all people everywhere, even including the many precious souls living on our islands here. We give this short and emphatic message very clearly based on God’s word and it is: “There is no salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among man by which we must be saved.” ( Read Acts 4: 8 -12)

Now then, since it is the Holy Spirit that inspired the Apostle Peter to write these words, that: there is no salvation in no one else, in no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved. We here in Aruba and surrounding islands should understand that this truth is for us today as surely as it did at the time Peter wrote these words to the dispersed believers, and that goes for all people everywhere all over our world today as well.  And may I repeat? “There is no salvation in no one else” – only in the name of Jesus. Do you believe?

Dear friends loved by our Lord JesusChrist Himself, we can see and we can hear how people are dying all around us everywhere: men and women, old and young, poor and rich. It is appointed unto men once to die and then comes the judgment.  According to the Scriptures there is coming the day of the resurrection of the just and the unjust. And as to who the just are, and who the unjust are, the Word of God is absolute and emphatic.

Take your Bible and read the entire Chapter 3  in the Book of Romans. Pay attention to these words: “There is no one who is righteous, not even one.” Continue reading and notice that in 3:21 it says, “But now apart from law, the righteousness of God has been disclosed, and is attested by the law and prophets, the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ. For there is no distinction, since all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God; they are now justified by His grace as a gift through the redemption that is in Jesus Christ.”

We encourage all of you who have read this short message today, but are still living in darkness and uncertainty as to the work of Christ, Who came to this world to seek and save sinners -  then know  that the Spirit of God through His servants have told us, “ at an acceptable time I have listened to you, and on a day of salvation I have helped you. See, now is the acceptable time; see now is the day of salvation.”

This means, dear friends young or old, that we are actually living today in that “acceptable time, the day of salvation”, of which the Scriptures call our attention to. We just wanted to remind you about the: the way of the cross, talked so much about in these last weeks; it is easy to take part in dramas depicting the way of the cross, act very religious for some time preceding the resurrection of our Lord, denying ourselves this and that, and yet ignore and make light of the true meaning of Christ’s death on the cross in our daily living. According to the Scripture, “He Himself (Jesus Christ) bore our sins in His body on the cross, so that, free from sins, we might live for righteousness; by His wounds you have been healed.” (1 Peter 2:24). That is why repentance is absolutely necessary on our part, and faith in the death and resurrection of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, otherwise all outward gestures like wearing crosses, taking part in the many “walks” following a cross, etc., etc., as we witnessed on television, on the streets around the world, and here in Aruba, are in vain. Repent and Believe.

AUTHORITY

What does Scripture say about “Authority”?  In order for one to live in accordance to the will of our Lord God and Heavenly Father in our relationships and obedience to our government, and all who are in authority, it is important and necessary for us to know what the Holy Spirit guided His servants to write in the Scriptures about this subject.

Writing to the brothers and sisters in Christ living in Rome, the Apostle Paul told them the following: “Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God. Consequently, he who rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves. For rulers hold no terror for those who do right, but for those who do wrong. Do you want to be fee from fear from the one in authority? Then do what is right and he will commend you. For he is God’s servant to do you good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword for nothing. He is God’s servant, an agent of wrath to bring judgment on the wrongdoer. Therefore it is necessary to submit to authorities, not only because of possible punishment, but also because of conscience.”  Romans 13:1-7

Those of us living on this small island of Aruba, or on our neighboring islands Curaçao and Bonaire, or anywhere else for that matter, must understand that the system of government in large nations may differ than ours, but the Biblical principles are the same. For example there are Kings and Queens, Presidents, Prime Ministers, Emperors, and other such titles. Do not think that because they are called servants of God in the Scriptures, that this necessarily means that they are Christians or true believers. Whoever it may be, and whatever title he or she may carry is included in the word “humanity”, and Christ died on the cross for all mankind everywhere, and if Christ died for all, He also rose for all. And that, my friend, includes all government officials in all the nations of the world. Yes, it includes great people that carry names like Scientists, Doctors, Medical Specialists, Soldies, Police, and on and on the list goes.  Every single person in these categories, and for that matter all categories are called  to REPENT and BELIEVE in the Gospel of our Lord and Savior JesusChrist. According to the living Word of our Lord and God, there is  no person whose life is good enough, that he  or she need not repent and believe. No, all must repend, and that is the reason why our Lord Jesus said on one occasion when he was teaching the disciples, and multitudes: that it is hard for a rich man to enter the Kingdom of God!

However, in another passage of Scripture we read that it is not hard only for the rich to enter the Kingdom of God, but it is difficult for all people everywhere. Even a very religious person, with high positions in her or his religion, if if or she does not REPENT and accept, by faith, the Lord Jesus Christ as his/her personal Savior dies in his or her lost condition - according to the Word of God. No religious robe (garb), no religious name, no religious gestures can save a  person from eternal condemnation. That “lost condition”  is true for every single person in the world. Jesus came to seek and to save that which was lost. Christ Jesus died on the cross to free us from sin, that we might live for righteousness. It is by His wounds we were healed. We need to be reminded again and again that our lives are like a vapor or mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. Please take a moment and read the passage in the Book of James, chapter 4, verses 13-17.

That is why the Holy Spirit inspired the writer in the Book of Hebrews to give us these words: “We must pay more careful attention, therefore, to what we have heard, so that we do not drift away. For if the message spoken by angels was binding, and every violation and disobedience received its just punishment, how shall we escape, if we neglect so great a salvation? The answer to this question is right there in the same question!

Dear friends, loved by the Lord Himself, it does not matter in which category we belong in the human race that we are a part of, remember this: we encourage you by the authority of the living Word of God, to humble yourself before God Almighty, acknowledge that you are a sinner, and need Jesus Christ as your personal Savior, and that you accept Him, by faith. One thing is sure, you will never be sorry that you repented and made this very important decision in your life.

Written & prepared by Bicento & Betty Henriquez

PS Feel free to post a question or a comment to us.