•3:09 PM
by J. Raymond Pecoraro, Wooddale Church of Christ
These words are from the pen of the great apostle Paul.
This article is about God’s Book of Life where He records the faithful because He knows that they are His people.
There are many books in the world.
In fact, Solomon said, “that there is no end to book making.” (Eccl. 12:12).
There are works of fiction, novels, technical books, self-help books, textbooks, and many, many more covering almost any subject imaginable!
But the greatest, best-selling book ever written is the Bible.
It contains answers to life's simple and most complex questions ever asked by man! (II Tim. 3:16, 17).
Through the ages there have been legions of people who tried to dispute the validity of the Bible, yet to no avail!
In Luke 2:1-5, Joseph & Mary were required by Roman law to register for taxation! Courthouses have large books containing the name of its citizens who own property, pay taxes, owe taxes, births & deaths. The government records the census of all citizens of the U.S.A. Paul tells us that our citizenship is in heaven (Phil. 3:20). Therefore the Christian’s name is written in God’s “Book of Life.”
The Heavenly Registry: “Notwithstanding, in this rejoice not, that the spirits are subject unto you; but rather rejoice, because your names are written in heaven.” (Luke 10:20).
The early disciples had the ability to work miracles & they thought this was great. They rejoiced because they had this power over the serpents, scorpions, & even their enemies. (V.17). Yet Jesus said it was a greater blessing to have your name enrolled in heaven! Paul’s challenge to “rejoice in the Lord: always immediately follows the statement about the “Book of Life.” (Phil. 4:4).
Whose Names Are Enrolled In Heaven?
“But ye are come unto mount Sion, & unto the city of the living God, the Heavenly Jerusalem, & to an innumerable company of Angels. To the general assembly & church of the first born, & to God the Judge of all, & to the spirits of just men made perfect.” Heb. 12:22, 23 …the Redeemed).
The triumphant of the church of the Lord:
1. Those “called out” of the world (Ekklesia).
2. People who belong to God. (I Cor. 1:2).
3. People who are sanctified (set apart from the world). (I Cor. 1:2).
4. Those who are “in Christ” …God’s children through baptism. (Gal. 3:26, 27).
5. People who are called by the gospel. (I Cor. 1:2).
6. Those who “call upon the name of the Lord. (Rom. 10:13-17).
“He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; & I will not blot his name out of the Book of Life, but I will confess his name before My Father, & before His angels.” (Rev. 3:5).
Paul said, “For I am now ready to be offered, & the time of my departure is at hand. I have fought the good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith.” (II Tim. 6, 7).
We must keep the commandments of the Lord & our names will be there come Judgment Day!
Make no mistake about this, friends!
The Tragedy Of Not Having One’s Name In The Lamb’s Book of Life:
“And whosoever was not found written in the Book of Life was cast into the lake of fire.” (Rev. 20:15).
There won’t be any computer errors come the judgment!
God is the Divine bookkeeper. (Read Daniel 12:1-3).
All jokes about heaven will cease because it won’t be funny.
In John 11:25, Jesus said, “I am the resurrection, & the life: he that believeth in Me, though he die, yet shall he live.”
If you haven’t yet made preparations to have your name written in God’s Book of Life, there may not be a better opportunity than now!
“One day when heaven was filled with His praises,
One day when sin was as black as could be,
Jesus came forth to be born of a virgin,
Dwelled among men,
my Example is He.
Living He loved me,
dying He saved me,
Rising He carried my sins far away.
One day He is coming,
O Glorious Day.”
When the roll is called up yonder, will you hear your name?
Heaven is a prepared place for a prepared people!
There are many books in the world.
In fact, Solomon said, “that there is no end to book making.” (Eccl. 12:12).
There are works of fiction, novels, technical books, self-help books, textbooks, and many, many more covering almost any subject imaginable!
But the greatest, best-selling book ever written is the Bible.
It contains answers to life's simple and most complex questions ever asked by man! (II Tim. 3:16, 17).
Through the ages there have been legions of people who tried to dispute the validity of the Bible, yet to no avail!
In Luke 2:1-5, Joseph & Mary were required by Roman law to register for taxation! Courthouses have large books containing the name of its citizens who own property, pay taxes, owe taxes, births & deaths. The government records the census of all citizens of the U.S.A. Paul tells us that our citizenship is in heaven (Phil. 3:20). Therefore the Christian’s name is written in God’s “Book of Life.”
The Heavenly Registry: “Notwithstanding, in this rejoice not, that the spirits are subject unto you; but rather rejoice, because your names are written in heaven.” (Luke 10:20).
The early disciples had the ability to work miracles & they thought this was great. They rejoiced because they had this power over the serpents, scorpions, & even their enemies. (V.17). Yet Jesus said it was a greater blessing to have your name enrolled in heaven! Paul’s challenge to “rejoice in the Lord: always immediately follows the statement about the “Book of Life.” (Phil. 4:4).
Whose Names Are Enrolled In Heaven?
“But ye are come unto mount Sion, & unto the city of the living God, the Heavenly Jerusalem, & to an innumerable company of Angels. To the general assembly & church of the first born, & to God the Judge of all, & to the spirits of just men made perfect.” Heb. 12:22, 23 …the Redeemed).
The triumphant of the church of the Lord:
1. Those “called out” of the world (Ekklesia).
2. People who belong to God. (I Cor. 1:2).
3. People who are sanctified (set apart from the world). (I Cor. 1:2).
4. Those who are “in Christ” …God’s children through baptism. (Gal. 3:26, 27).
5. People who are called by the gospel. (I Cor. 1:2).
6. Those who “call upon the name of the Lord. (Rom. 10:13-17).
“He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; & I will not blot his name out of the Book of Life, but I will confess his name before My Father, & before His angels.” (Rev. 3:5).
Paul said, “For I am now ready to be offered, & the time of my departure is at hand. I have fought the good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith.” (II Tim. 6, 7).
We must keep the commandments of the Lord & our names will be there come Judgment Day!
Make no mistake about this, friends!
The Tragedy Of Not Having One’s Name In The Lamb’s Book of Life:
“And whosoever was not found written in the Book of Life was cast into the lake of fire.” (Rev. 20:15).
There won’t be any computer errors come the judgment!
God is the Divine bookkeeper. (Read Daniel 12:1-3).
All jokes about heaven will cease because it won’t be funny.
In John 11:25, Jesus said, “I am the resurrection, & the life: he that believeth in Me, though he die, yet shall he live.”
If you haven’t yet made preparations to have your name written in God’s Book of Life, there may not be a better opportunity than now!
“One day when heaven was filled with His praises,
One day when sin was as black as could be,
Jesus came forth to be born of a virgin,
Dwelled among men,
my Example is He.
Living He loved me,
dying He saved me,
Rising He carried my sins far away.
One day He is coming,
O Glorious Day.”
When the roll is called up yonder, will you hear your name?
Heaven is a prepared place for a prepared people!
