THE BOOK OF LIFE

From the West Meadow
By Pastor Wesley Higgins

When we read the Bible, we are fascinated by the stories of everyday people, just like ourselves. We know their stories were written for our example (I Corinthians 10:11). What about our stories? Are you aware that as a Christian your name has been entered into a book? And that in that Book, at one time or another, is listed all your accomplishments and failures? The book is called the Book of Life. Is this a literal book? Probably not in a physical shape, but the Bible does represent it as spiritually existing.

Not everyone on earth has his or her name written in the book B at least, not now. "All who dwell on the earth will worship [the Beast], whose names have not been written in the Book of Life." (Revelation 13:8) God calls and chooses us out of the world (John 6:64-65). When we accept that calling, our names are entered into the Book of Life -- see Philippians 14:2.

Also written in the Book of Life are the activities of our lives -- some good, some bad. It may be those bad things, our short-comings, that Satan refers to when he stands before God accusing us (see Rev. 12:10). But because we have repented and accepted Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior, Christ Himself mediates for us before God the Father (I Timothy 2:5). "And you, being dead in your trespasses...He has made alive...having forgiven you all trespasses, having wiped out the handwriting of requirements that was against us...He has taken (them) out of the way, having nailed (them) to the cross" (Colossians 2:13-14). It was not the law that was nailed to the cross, but our sins (trespasses) against the law.

What does having our names in the Book of Life assure us? Our entrance into the Holy City (Rev. 21:2, 27); a personal one on one relationship with the Father (verse 7); and a life free from death, from sorrow and pain (verse 4).

But there is something we need to be aware of: Jesus warns that our actions can cause our names to be blotted out of the Book of Life. "He who overcomes shall be clothed in white garments and I will not blot out his name from the Book of Life (Rev. 3:5). "If any one takes away from the words of this book (the Bible)...God shall take away His part from the Book of Life" (Rev. 22:19).

What about all those individuals who do not at this time have their names written in the Book of Life? Please understand, their names aren"t written in the Book of Life not because of unbelief on their part, but because God hasn"t called them yet. Their time is coming, after the first resurrection spoken of in Revelation 20:5-6. "And I saw the dead, small and great, standing before God, and the books (Bibles) were opened. And another Book was opened...the Book of Life, and the dead were judged according to their works, by the things written in the books (Bibles) " (Rev. 20:12).

Everyone who has ever lived will have an opportunity to have his or her stories written in the Book of Life. And we will all one day stand before God who will judge us with justice and mercy.

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