Scripture: Philippians 4 v 2 - 7; Revelation 21 v 22 -
27; Revelation 3 v 4 - 5; Revelation 20 v 11 - 15.
Of all things in
this life to which we subscribe or add our name the most important is the
Lamb's Book of Life! On the day you are born again your name is written in this
Book. It is our duty to make sure it stays there.
In Revelation 3 Jesus writes to one of the Seven
Churches, Sardis, and says that if they overcome (sin, demons, disobedience)
they shall be clothed in white raiment (the robes of righteousness) and I
(Jesus) will not blot their name out of the book of life. This suggests that if
we are born again but do not take it seriously and work with Jesus to overcome
worldly behaviour our names can be removed from the book of life and on the Day
of Judgment we find ourselves cast out of God's presence forever.
We must work on our spiritual life diligently every day -
acknowledging areas of our lives that need work; repenting before God and
making our needs known to those appointed to help.
We must never shun those who have the oversight of our
souls and who work tirelessly to ensure our readiness to meet our Maker when
that great day arrives. Rather be filled with gratitude that there are those
who truly care whether you make it to eternal rest and not eternal torment.
We all have choices to make and we know our God is
merciful and forgiving, but we must not resist the ministry of the Holy Spirit
in our lives.
We need to open our hearts to our Father in Heaven and
allow Him free reign. We have committed ourselves to Him when we got saved and
baptized, now we need to follow through on this and let our transformation
proceed without our stubborn clinging to our worldly habits and sins blocking
God from us. In Revelation 21 we learn that no one will enter into Heaven who
does things that are unclean - any form of sexual sin; whoever works
abomination - murder, terrorism, idolatry, addictions, corruption, false
doctrines; and whosoever tells lies - scams, cons, deceivers, cheaters and just
plain lying. Only those whose names are written in the Lamb's Book of Life will
enter in.
So what manner of people should we be that our name is
forever secure in that Book of Life? We must be very different to who we were
before we were saved. We must live our lives close to the heart of God as
humble, kind, gentle, clean, pure, merciful and faithful people. People around
us must see Jesus in us and be blessed by us. We must allow ourselves to be
used by God so that others may have their name written in the Lamb's Book of
Life.
Our time on Earth is fleeting but Heaven is eternal,
never-ending joy. We should want everyone we love and admire to be with us
there. It is not an automatic right that all go there. Many who attend church
have never made a real commitment to Jesus. Or been baptized in water.
I ministered at a church in the African Township of
Duduza some years ago. It was before Nelson Mandela was released from prison
and there was much unrest and violence around. I preached on our spiritual
weapons rather than the knives and guns they were used to. At the altar call I
said that the altar was a place of sacrifice and death to our old way of life
and if they were not prepared to die to this world they should not come to the
altar at all. To my surprise 100% of the congregation came forward to receive
Jesus as Saviour.
A very old lady who said she was 94 years old spoke to me
afterwards. She said she had been in the church all her life and this was the
first time she had made a commitment to Jesus. I asked her why and she said -
It is the first time Jesus was made real to me!
How many are like that old lady? We need to evangelize
the churches too to make sure Jesus is real to them and that their names are
truly written in the Lamb's Book of Life.
Prayer: Father God it is Your heart's desire that all
should be saved. It is our job to preach the truth so that Jesus can come alive
in their hearts and He can be their Saviour. Fill us O God with a burden for
souls that we will pray, preach and persuade the lost back into Your Kingdom.
In Jesus' name. Amen.