Do you ever Google your name? Have you ever thought of all the different places your name is written? You would be surprised to find the databases that include your name: graduating classes, organizations, churches, Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, and property records. Your name may even appear in a list of arrested, ticketed, or wanted people.

 WHERE IS YOUR NAME WRITTEN?

Friends and acquaintances may be impressed by the places our names are listed, but in the sight of God our earthly accomplishments — both good and bad— are written in sand. For most of us, the tide of a couple of generations will wipe out the remembrance of our names. No matter where our names are written, revered, or despised all earthly records will someday be deleted. When all the books, Kindles, and Nooks are closed and the databases of the world no longer load and open, two books will still remain—the Word of God and the Book of Life.

“…the word of the Lord stands forever …”  (I Peter 1:25; Isaiah 40:8)

The Book of Life is mentioned several times in the Bible. Paul speaks of fellow workers “whose names are written in the book of life.”  (Ephesians 4:3) The writer of Hebrews speaks of a day when “thousands upon thousands of angels meet in  joyful assembly, with the church of the firstborn, whose names are written in heaven.” (Hebrews 12:23)

In the Revelation, God reveals to John, the importance of being prepared to reject the anti-Christ by having our names written in the book of life. “All inhabitants of the earth will worship the beast —all whose names have not been written in the book of life…”  To those in Sardis who were dying spiritually, the warning comes, “Wake up! Strengthen what remains and is about to die….” so that your name will not be blotted out of the book of life. (Revelation 3: 1-5)

Near the end of the Revelation, an angel takes the Apostle John on a tour of the capital city of heaven, the New Jerusalem, and tells him, “Nothing impure will ever enter it, nor will anyone who does what is shameful or deceitful, but only those whose names are written in the Lamb’s book of life. (Revelation 21:27) The Revelation continues with a verse that describes the fate of those who ignore or reject God’s free gift of eternal life. “Anyone whose name was not found written in the book of life was thrown into the lake of fire.”  (Rev. 20:15) To be honest, I would like to delete Revelation 20:15 from the Word of God, but the last paragraph of the Revelation warns against adding or deleting any of the words of this prophecy.

 THE WORD OF GOD WILL ENDURE FOREVER
THE BOOK OF LIFE EXISTS AND WILL BE OPENED SOMEDAY
IS YOUR NAME WRITTEN IN THE BOOK OF LIFE?

Don’t “Hope so.”  Make sure. If you aren’t sure, tell God, “I want to make sure my name is written in the Book of Life. I am a sinner, and don’t deserve to have my name in your Book of Life. My only hope of being made pure and acceptable to you is by trusting Jesus to forgive me of my sins and to give me eternal life. I’m trusting and asking Jesus for eternal life, right now. Write my name in the Book of Life.”

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. (John 3:16).

Martha Hawn VanCise©2021