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My Name & Life In The Book of Life
John TiltonRevelation 20:11-15
Then I saw a great white throne and him who was seated on it. The earth and the heavens fled from his presence, and there was no place for them. And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Another book was opened, which is the book of life. The dead were judged according to what they had done as recorded in the books. The sea gave up the dead that were in it, and death and Hades gave up the dead that were in them, and each person was judged according to what they had done. Then death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. The lake of fire is the second death. Anyone whose name was not found written in the book of life was thrown into the lake of fire.
What an exciting reveal of what is to come standing before His throne as the dead rise and the book of life is opened. To realize that the book of life will contain all that everyone on earth has done! But then to know that each will be judged according to what we have done. Then death, hades and all of those whose name are not written in the book of life would all be thrown into the lake of fire.
What a detailed insight and warning for all! I realize that I will be judged by all that I do. Initially it brings fear knowing the sins in my life. But then I realize that good news that Jesus came to cover my sins and give me a clean slate so that as I accept Him and ask for forgiveness for my sins, that my name will in fact be in the book of life. I know that obedience to God’s Word and will is the way. Yet, God loves us so much that He would give us grace and mercy daily for our shortcomings of sin … wow!
On this New Year’s eve, I liken the end of 2015 today, and the beginning of 2016 tomorrow as a metaphor of my clean slate daily through Christ Jesus. That I am able to call upon His name through his dying on the cross for my sins, that I may have a new beginning each time I call upon Him and His blood shed for me. It’s not only a Happy New Year, but also more importantly, a Happy New Life.
Dear Lord, as 2015 ends and 2016 will come tomorrow, I thank you for your grace and mercy on my life that you allow my name to be in your book of life to live eternally with you by the blood shed on the cross by Jesus. Thank you for making each day a new day in you through Jesus sacrifice.
