There is no question about it! God has a book which is a register of his people and is called the Book of Life. Moses was aware of God’s book as evidenced by the fact that he asked to have his name blotted out of the book for the sake of rebellious Israel (Exodus 32:32). It is interesting that God replied to Moses, “Whoever has sinned against me, I will blot him out of my book” (verse 33). David spoke of those who troubled him when he prayed, “Let them be blotted out of the book of the living, and not be written with the righteous” (Psalm 69:28). This indicates that David knew of God’s record of the righteous.
Paul said that his Christian coworkers had their names in the Book of Life (Philippians 4:3). Jesus told his disciples to rejoice because their names were written in heaven (Luke 10:20). Jesus said to the church at Sardis that he who overcame evil would not have his name blotted out of the Book of Life (Revelation 3:5). In Revelation 13:8 we learn that those who followed evil did not have their names written in the Book of Life. At the judgment the Book of Scripture will be opened to judge men and another book which is the book of Life (Revelation 20:12). Those whose names are not in the Book of Life will be cast into the lake of fire (Revelation 20:15). In Revelation 21:27 we learn that those who enter heaven will be those whose names are in the Book of Life. Those who add to or take away from the words of the book of Revelation will have his part taken from the Book of Life (Revelation 22:19). Finally, the names of those who are members of the church have their names written in heaven (Hebrews 12:23).
What do we learn from these Scriptures? We learn that God has a book called the Book of Life which lists the names of his people. God’s people in the New Testament are disciples, saints, members of the church. One may have his name blotted out of God’s Book by living an unfaithful life. If one’s name is not in this Book he will be lost. It is essential that you become a disciple of the Lord (Matthew 28:19-20), that you seek to live in harmony with the Lord’s will (Revelation 3:5), that you are baptized into the Lord’s body, the church (I Corinthians 12:13). Then, with the full assurance of faith, You can “rejoice because your names are written in heaven.”
- Jay Lockhart; via The Encourager, the weekly bulletin for the Calvert City church of Christ, Calvert City, KY. Lance Cordle preaches for the congregation. He may be contacted through the congregation's website: http://www.calvertchurchofchrist.com
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