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.