Your Name In the Pages of Forever: God's Personal Ledger
In eternity's registry, there's a ledger kept by God Himself. It's a book of names... a personal record of those who have invited Jesus into their hearts and lives as Savior, and love and follow him. It is called the Book of Life (Revelation 20:15)
The Apostle John wrote of this list in connection with the eternal city: “There shall in no wise enter into it, anything that defiles, neither whatsoever works abomination, or makes a lie: but they which are written in the Lamb's Book of Life" (Revelation 21:27).
"And all that dwell upon the Earth [during the Tribulation period] shall worship him [the Beast], whose names are not written in the Book of Life of the Lamb that was slain." Revelation 13:8
The Beast and the Antichrist are empowered by Satan during the Great Tribulation period. Those who were left behind from the rapture shall worship the Beast, and are contrasted with those whose names are written in the Lamb's Book of Life.
The Beast and the Antichrist are not the same entity. The Antichrist is a man who opposes Christ and is mentioned in 1st and 2nd John. The Beast is associated with the number 666, and shall demand political power and worship. Any who oppose him, shall be killed.
Even the Apostle Paul spoke of his fellow co-workers as those “whose names are in the Book of Life” (Phil. 4:3). Here's how to assure your name is written in the Book of Life:
Believe and trust that Jesus Christ, the Son of God, came to earth and died to save you. By His loving grace, you can invite Him into your heart and life as your Savior, experiencing His love and transformation by the Holy Spirit.
This involves turning away from your old ways without Christ, in exchange for a new life in Christ. It is Christ's work on the cross that atones for our sins, not by anything we have done, and is foundational to salvation. John 3:16
The Cross as a Bridge
Sin created a separation between humanity and God. The cross, where Jesus died, acts as a bridge, reconciling us to God the Father, in heaven, made possible through Christ for the forgiveness of our sins. Jesus became our Mediator between us and God, so that through him, we could be saved. 1st Timothy 2:5
While the cross is the foundation, faith is the means by which individuals receive the benefits of Christ's sacrifice. It is not just believing that Jesus died, but also trusting in Him as Lord and Savior...believing and trusting in His promises. Through faith, believers are united with Christ in his death and resurrection. This union empowers them to live a new life, no longer enslaved to sin, but empowered to overcome its influence.
Overcoming Not by Works, But by Grace
While good works are the result of salvation, they are not the basis for it. Salvation is a free gift, received by grace through faith, NOT earned through human effort. Ephesians 2:8-9
The resurrection is just as vital as the crucifixion. It demonstrates that change and a brand new life is possible through Jesus and the transforming power of his Holy Spirit. Given, the moment you receive Jesus as Savior. Your name is then written in Heaven, in the Book of Life, and you are sealed by God's own Holy Spirit of Promise, as His own, until the "day of Redemption" [when you go to be with God in heaven and experience full redemption from sin's presence and effects]. How exciting is that?!! I'm looking forward to THAT trip! That's spiritual assurance!
Can God's spiritual "seal" be broken, if it is HE that sealed us?
In biblical teaching, the Holy Spirit's seal is a guarantee of the believers' inheritance in Christ until the day of redemption. Biblically, the seal isn't described as something that can be "broken" in the sense of losing salvation, for those who are truly born-again believers.
The "seal" of the Holy Spirit, as described in Ephesians 1:13-14, signifies God's ownership and guarantees believers' salvation. It's not a physical mark, but the Holy Spirit's presence within believers, signifying that they are marked as God's own and are secure in their inheritance. This seal is God's promise of future redemption and a mark of His divine approval. It's God's personal touch in the lives of those who trust in Him.
The thought of being in God's ledger brings hope and assurance. It speaks of a relationship with the Creator of the universe -- one that's personal and full of love. In a world full of uncertainties, knowing YOUR NAME is in God's Book of Life, brings hope, joy, and assurance of eternal security.
May you find comfort in knowing that God keeps a Ledger of Love, where your name is written in its pages forever. Our Spiritual Possessions are in Jesus! Amen!!!
