Is your name written in the Book of Life?
Today in Revelation 20, we read about the Book of Life. It is pretty clear what the Bible says in verse 15:
And if anyone’s name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.
The most important place your name could ever be written is in this book. So, how do you know if your name is included in this Book of Life?
As we are just 4 days away from celebrating Christmas, the birth of Jesus, what a fitting question. We celebrate Jesus coming to earth to bring us life. It is only through Him that we are forgiven and through belief in Him do we get to have our name added to the Book of Life. When we believe that Jesus Christ is our Savior it is a gift that we are given to be added to this book.
For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.
Ephesians 2:8-9
I have previously shared the story of realising my name was in the Book of Life, not because of who I am or what I have done, but only because of what Jesus did for me by coming to this earth and then dying on the cross.
I will never forget the shame I felt after hanging up the phone with a lady from a new church I attended. She asked me if I believed in Jesus and did I believe I would go to Heaven (was my name written in the Book of Life?). I said Yes and she asked me why I believed this. The first words out of my mouth were, “because I am a good person and I do good things.” The woman immediately followed up with, “well, that is fine, but you only get to Heaven because Jesus died for your sins, not because of anything you do.” I was mortified. I had just graduated from a Christian College, I had spent years in the Church…why wasn’t that my first answer??? As hard as it was to realize that I had answered in the wrong way, it has been one of the greatest lessons and reminders in my life. Jesus died for ME because He Loves Me! Not because of ANYTHING I have done or will do!
Reading through Revelation 20 is confusing and can be frustrating to figure out what it is exactly saying. But when you know that Jesus came and died for your sins, it is a comfort to know that your name is written down in the Book of Life and your salvation is secure. Your future is in heaven and your eternity is with Christ.
We have such an opportunity these next few days to celebrate the birth of Jesus and the reason He came to earth. Sharing this good news with others is the biggest call on our lives. Revelation makes it abundantly clear what happens if your name is not written in the Book of Life. We can let that scare us or motivate us to share the Good News of Jesus with all that we are surrounded by this Christmas.
Job 34-36 and Revelation 20