Your name is in God’s Book of Life, or it’s not. If your name is there, you’ll be admitted to heaven. If not, you’ll be cast (thrown) into hell. Heaven is a far better place to be than hell. That’s all fire, torment, despair, and gloom. Heaven is the place of light, beauty, peace, and perfect existence. I want to be in heaven. Don’t you? You must have your name in the Book of Life to be in heaven.
How Does One Get Their Name In The Book Of Life?
The answer is simple. His name is added to the Book of Life when one is added to Jesus’ church (by none other than Jesus himself). This happens at salvation, when one is baptized to wash away personal sin, Acts 22:16. One is added to Jesus’ church and the Book of Life when they obtain salvation.
It takes a penitent heart to be baptized, 2 Corinthians 7:10. A penitent heart requires a person to stop a sinful way of life and turn to Jesus for a life of righteousness. When one realizes his need to wash his sins away, he is ready to confess that Jesus is God’s Son, his Savior, and Lord of his life, Matthew 10:32. Only at this point may one be baptized for the remission of sins.
About The Book
About the Book: “And I saw the dead, the great and the small, standing before the throne, and books were opened; and another book was opened, which is the book of life; and the dead were judged from the things which were written in the books, according to their deeds,” Revelation 20:12.
The verse says “books” were opened. Then another book is opened, the Book of Life. The dead are judged from the things in the books, i.e., their deeds while alive—the things you’ve done while alive are recorded in those books, and they follow you to judgment. It’s best to be baptized and live rightly before God so that your good deeds are recorded. You do not want a page full of misdeeds. That will get you thrown into hell.
We All Go Through The Judgment
2 Corinthians 5:10 states that everyone must face judgment. We’ll be compensated for our deeds according to what we’ve done, good or bad. If your deeds cause no peace on earth, you’ll receive no peace in judgment. You’ll have delight in heaven if your deeds cause peace on earth, in accordance with the law of Christ.
Jesus Is The Judge
Acts 17:31 – “because He (God) has set a day on which He will judge the world in righteousness through a Man (Jesus) whom He has appointed, having furnished proof to all people by raising Him from the dead.” The parenthetical references are mine, placed there for understanding.
From 2 Corinthians 5:10 and Acts 17:31, we find that Jesus judges the world. One day, we’ll rise from the dead to meet Jesus, and He will decide our permanent residence, heaven or hell. According to Matthew 25, Jesus sends the evil into eternal punishment, and the good to heaven, everlasting life.
Conclusion
It makes all the sense in the world that your name should be in the Book of Life. It means eternal life with God the Father, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit. You’ll have to do something about it. God’s gift of salvation is given by grace, but we must accept His offer. We accept His gift by following His plan for salvation. Then, we must live according to the excellent way found in the New Testament. See Ephesians, chapter 4. It makes all the difference in eternity.
Garland Van Dyke
mailto:garland.churchofchrist@gmail.com?subject=Dead in Offenses and Sins