11/28/24

To be found in the book of life, walk with God in righteousness (Rev20:14-15)

Then Death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death—the lake of fire. And if anyone was found whose name was not written in the Book of Life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.  Rev 20:15

At that time those who feared the LORD spoke with one another, and the LORD listened and heard them. So a scroll of remembrance was written before Him regarding those who feared the LORD and honored His name. Malachi 3:16

I've been thinking about eternity lately, what a wonderful thought about being in perfect harmony with our LORD and Savior. Being heavenly minded makes us most useful in this life, to see what our heavenly father is doing and taking his lead. Abiding and setting our hope firmly on Him. We're getting ready for Christmas in the Skyway next Tuesday and I've just purchased giveaways and prizes. 

Everyone needs encouragement, last night we got to pray for Benjamin and Winn for healing, wisdom/understanding, and to be filled with the Holy Spirit. It's been great to get to know these guys and see them grow through our Alpha experience. Often times we hold back our true selves but when we come into the light, humbly and honestly we receive the blessed presence of God, renewing our hope and flushing us with love. All the songs of Christmas come into my heart and mind and I rejoice. 

We prayed for the whole world to know Jesus this year and I'm reminded that the whole world will know Jesus, either in regret or in thanksgiving. Jesus describes in Luke 16:22-31.

All this makes me want to see where else the book of life is talked about:

  • “At that time Michael, the great prince who stands watch over your people, will rise up. There will be a time of distress, the likes of which will not have occurred from the beginning of nations until that time. But at that time your people—everyone whose name is found written in the book—will be delivered. Multitudes who sleep in the dust of the earth will awake: some to everlasting life, others to shame and everlasting contempt. Those who are wise will shine like the brightness of the heavens, and those who lead many to righteousness, like the stars for ever and ever.  Daniel 12:1-3
  • Then He will say to those on His left, ‘Depart from Me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels....“Then they will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life.” Matthew 25:41,46
  • Do not be amazed at this, for the hour is coming when all who are in their graves will hear His voice / and come out—those who have done good to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil to the resurrection of judgment. John 5:28-29

It's about hearing the Word of God and taking it to heart so that it produces righteousness. 

  • But the seed falling on good soil refers to someone who hears the word and understands it. This is the one who produces a crop, yielding a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown. Matthew 13:23
  • The Son of Man will send out his angels, and they will weed out of his kingdom everything that causes sin and all who do evil. They will throw them into the blazing furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. Then the righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father. Whoever has ears, let them hear. Matthew 13:41-43
  • So will it be at the end of the age: The angels will come and separate the wicked from the righteous / and throw them into the fiery furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. Matthew 13:49-50

God's sovereignty in Salvation, meets our free choice in that he tells us if you go there you'll die, if you come here you'll live. 

  • And all who dwell on the earth will worship the beast—all whose names have not been written from the foundation of the world in the Book of Life belonging to the Lamb who was slain. Revelation 13:8
  • Does God change his mind?

Because we are saved, we experience the fulfilment of work God gave us individually (Eph 2:8-10)

  • Nevertheless, do not rejoice that the spirits submit to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.” Luke 10:20
  • Yes, and I ask you, my true yokefellow, to help these women who have contended at my side for the gospel, along with Clement and the rest of my fellow workers, whose names are in the Book of Life. Philippians 4:3
  • Like them, he who overcomes will be dressed in white. And I will never blot out his name from the Book of Life, but I will confess his name before My Father and His angels. Revelation 3:5

Without God, our lives are driving toward eternal destruction (as we lie and celebrate false prophets):

  • But nothing unclean will ever enter it, nor anyone who practices an abomination or a lie, but only those whose names are written in the Lamb’s Book of Life. Revelation 21:27
  • he too will drink the wine of God’s anger, poured undiluted into the cup of His wrath. And he will be tormented in fire and sulfur in the presence of the holy angels and of the Lamb. / And the smoke of their torment rises forever and ever. Day and night there is no rest for those who worship the beast and its image, or for anyone who receives the mark of its name.” Revelation 14:10-11
  • New song, gospel proclaimed and final harvest (Rev 14 in perspective)
  • But the beast was captured along with the false prophet, who on its behalf had performed signs deceiving those who had the mark of the beast and worshiped its image. Both the beast and the false prophet were thrown alive into the fiery lake of burning sulfur. Revelation 19:20

Without God, we suppress the truth about God, adding non-sense (fluid gender, abortion as freedom)

  • And if anyone takes away from the words of this book of prophecy, God will take away his share in the tree of life and the holy city, which are described in this book. Revelation 22:19
  • You must not add to or subtract from what I command you, so that you may keep the commandments of the LORD your God that I am giving you...See that you do everything I command you; do not add to it or subtract from it. Deuteronomy 4:2, 12:32
  • Every word of God is flawless; He is a shield to those who take refuge in Him. / Do not add to His words, lest He rebuke you and prove you a liar. Proverbs 30:5-6

Once the truth about God, and ourselves is suppressed we search for new messiahs (religions, philosophy)

  • But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach a gospel contrary to the one we preached to you, let him be under a curse! / As we have said before, so now I say again: If anyone is preaching to you a gospel contrary to the one you received, let him be under a curse! Galatians 1:8-9
  • Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show by good conduct that his works are done in the meekness of wisdom. But if you have bitter envy and self-seeking in your hearts, do not boast and lie against the truth. This wisdom does not descend from above, but is earthly, sensual, demonic. For where envy and self-seeking exist, confusion and every evil thing are there. But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy. Now the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace James 3:13-18

It comes down to receiving God into our lives his way (Jesus Christ), else we "will be a horror to all mankind"

  • “As they go forth, they will see the corpses of the men who have rebelled against Me; for their worm will never die, their fire will never be quenched, and they will be a horror to all mankind.” Isaiah 66:24
  • May they be blotted out of the Book of Life and not listed with the righteous Psalm 69:28

No comments: