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Is your name written in the Book of Life?

Today in Revelation 20, we read about the Book of Life. It is pretty clear what the Bible says in verse 15:

And if anyone’s name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.

The most important place your name could ever be written is in this book. So, how do you know if your name is included in this Book of Life?

As we are just 4 days away from celebrating Christmas, the birth of Jesus, what a fitting question. We celebrate Jesus coming to earth to bring us life. It is only through Him that we are forgiven and through belief in Him do we get to have our name added to the Book of Life. When we believe that Jesus Christ is our Savior it is a gift that we are given to be added to this book.

For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.
Ephesians 2:8-9

I have previously shared the story of realising my name was in the Book of Life, not because of who I am or what I have done, but only because of what Jesus did for me by coming to this earth and then dying on the cross.

I will never forget the shame I felt after hanging up the phone with a lady from a new church I attended. She asked me if I believed in Jesus and did I believe I would go to Heaven (was my name written in the Book of Life?). I said Yes and she asked me why I believed this. The first words out of my mouth were, “because I am a good person and I do good things.” The woman immediately followed up with, “well, that is fine, but you only get to Heaven because Jesus died for your sins, not because of anything you do.” I was mortified. I had just graduated from a Christian College, I had spent years in the Church…why wasn’t that my first answer??? As hard as it was to realize that I had answered in the wrong way, it has been one of the greatest lessons and reminders in my life. Jesus died for ME because He Loves Me! Not because of ANYTHING I have done or will do!

Reading through Revelation 20 is confusing and can be frustrating to figure out what it is exactly saying. But when you know that Jesus came and died for your sins, it is a comfort to know that your name is written down in the Book of Life and your salvation is secure. Your future is in heaven and your eternity is with Christ.

We have such an opportunity these next few days to celebrate the birth of Jesus and the reason He came to earth. Sharing this good news with others is the biggest call on our lives. Revelation makes it abundantly clear what happens if your name is not written in the Book of Life. We can let that scare us or motivate us to share the Good News of Jesus with all that we are surrounded by this Christmas.

Job 34-36 and Revelation 20

Today’s Readings Job 28-30; Revelation 18

In my post today, I’m taking a deeper dive on Job 28, which is packed full of wisdom and depth.

Quest for Wisdom: Job begins by describing the human quest for precious resources like silver, gold, and precious stones, which people mine from the earth. However, he argues that the search for wisdom is even more challenging and elusive.

Incomparable Value of Wisdom: Job emphasizes that wisdom cannot be bought or mined like material wealth. It is more valuable than any material possession. Wisdom, in his view, is something that transcends the physical world.

God’s Role as the Source of Wisdom: Job attributes true wisdom to God alone. He describes a profound understanding that belongs to God and cannot be grasped by human efforts. This aligns with the broader theme in the Book of Job, where Job grapples with the mysteries of God’s ways and the limitations of human understanding.

Fear of the Lord as Wisdom: The chapter concludes by stating that the fear of the Lord is true wisdom. This aligns with a recurring theme in the Bible, particularly in the wisdom literature, where fearing God is presented as the beginning of wisdom (Proverbs 9:10).

Overall, Job 28 serves as a reflection on the nature of wisdom, highlighting its supreme value, its connection to God, and the limitations of human understanding. It contributes to the broader theological discussions present in the Book of Job about the nature of suffering, justice, and the wisdom of God’s providence.

In Chapter 29, Job recounts the former days of prosperity and honor, expressing the contrast with his current state of affliction. He longs for the days when he was respected and admired by others.

Chapter 30 marks a shift in Job’s tone as he describes his current distress and the mockery he faces from both the young and the lowly. Job expresses deep sorrow, feeling abandoned by God and society. He describes his physical suffering and the emotional anguish he experiences.  Do you ever feel that way?

In summary, these chapters delve into Job’s reflections on wisdom, his reminiscence of past glory, and his current anguish and despair as he grapples with the profound challenges and questions surrounding his suffering.

The parallels between these chapters in Job and Revelations 18 are interesting. The book of Job is thought to have written between 1000-2000 BC and Revelations written around 95 AD. In other words, these books were written around 2000 years apart.

Riches and Material Wealth: The chapters in Job and Revelations 18 touch on the theme of wealth and material possessions. Job 28 reflects on the value of earthly treasures like silver and gold, contrasting them with the incomparable value of wisdom. Revelation 18, on the other hand, describes the fall of Babylon, a symbol of human worldly wealth and extravagance.

Temporal vs. Eternal Values: Job 28 emphasizes the limitations of material wealth and the transcendent value of wisdom, which is associated with the fear of the Lord. Revelation 18 portrays the downfall of a city built on materialism and luxury, highlighting the fleeting nature of worldly prosperity compared to eternal values.

Judgment and Divine Intervention: Job 28-30 and Revelations 18 touch on the theme of divine judgment. In Revelation 18, Babylon faces judgment for its sins and excesses. In Job 28, there is an acknowledgment of God’s role as the source of wisdom and understanding. While the context and details differ, there is a shared recognition of God’s sovereignty and justice.

While these chapters were written literally thousands of years apart, the broader themes of the transient nature of worldly wealth, the importance of spiritual values, and the inevitability of divine judgment can be identified in Job 28-30 and Revelation 18.

Today’s reading:  Job 21-23. Psalm 101, Revelation 16

Revelation 16 describes seven angels coming out of the presence of God with instructions to pour out their “container”, often referred to as a bowl or vial, full of God’s wrath on the wicked and the followers of the Antichrist.  These are the most severe judgments the world has ever experienced, as they represent God’s final and complete judgment on the earth.

• First bowl (vs. 16:2) – Horrible sores on those with the mark of the beast
• Second bowl (vs. 16:3) – Everything in the sea dies
• Third bowl (vv. 16:4-7) – All waters turn to blood
• Fourth bowl (vv. 16:8-9) – The sun burns and scorches people
• Fifth bowl (vv. 16:10-11) – Complete darkness over Antichrist’s kingdom
• Sixth bowl (vv. 16:12-16) – The Euphrates dries up, the kings of the East come, and the scene is set for the battle of Armageddon
• Seventh bowl (vv. 16:17-21) – A great earthquake, cities of nations fall, a huge hailstorm occurs

By this point, the tribulation is almost complete and there is no more opportunity for unbelievers to repent.  Sound scary?  It does to me.  While no one knows the hour or the day, we know the end is coming.  How do you make sure you aren’t the target of these judgments?  Don’t delay.  Put your faith in Jesus Christ today.

If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved (Romans 10:9).

 

Today’s Reading: Job 12-14; Psalms 100; Revelation 13

The passages for today taken individually can be a little disjointed, but when you are looking with a new prescriptive with the Spirit, these passages relate the true meaning of the bible and the gospel:  No matter what has happened or will happen, give thanks to God for His benevolence and grace.  

Psalms 100

Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth!
2  Serve the Lord with gladness!
    Come into his presence with singing!

3 Know that the Lord, he is God!
    It is he who made us, and we are his;[a]
    we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.

4 Enter his gates with thanksgiving,
    and his courts with praise!
    Give thanks to him; bless his name!

5 For the Lord is good;
    his steadfast love endures forever,
    and his faithfulness to all generations.

Job 12:1-4

Then Job answered and said:

2 “No doubt you are the people,  and wisdom will die with you.

3 But I have understanding as well as you; I am not inferior to you.
    Who does not know such things as these?

4 I am a laughingstock to my friends;  I, who called to God and he answered me,
    a just and blameless man, am a laughingstock.

Job 13: 1-4

“Behold, my eye has seen all this, my ear has heard and understood it.

2 What you know, I also know;  I am not inferior to you.

3 But I would speak to the Almighty, and I desire to argue my case with God.

4 As for you, you whitewash with lies; worthless physicians are you all.

Job 14:1-4

“Man who is born of a woman  is few of days and full of trouble.

2 He comes out like a flower and withers;  he flees like a shadow and continues not.

3 And do you open your eyes on such a one and bring me into judgment with you?

4 Who can bring a clean thing out of an unclean? There is not one.

Revelation 13:1-2

The First Beast

13 And I saw a beast rising out of the sea, with ten horns and seven heads, with ten diadems on its horns and blasphemous names on its heads. 2 And the beast that I saw was like a leopard; its feet were like a bear’s, and its mouth was like a lion’s mouth. And to it the dragon gave his power and his throne and great authority. 

Throughout these passages, there are so many circumstances that create unrest and confusion in the authors and the audiences.  The passages show that there is a mirage of things that we can go through on a daily basis, but we have to understand that there is a purpose in all that we experience and allow the Spirit to reveal God’s presence in the storms.  

Be Blessed. 

 

 

There are so many voices in today’s society. I find myself sitting in complete quiet sometimes because I get so overwhelmed by the constant chatter around me. We are surrounded by noise from the daily news, social media, friends, neighbors, and even music playing in your favorite restaurant. What and Who do you listen to?

When you face a storm in your life whose voice do you first seek and listen to? Do you first try and call a family member? Maybe you reach out to your dearest friend for advice? Or maybe you get on your computer and start googling for the answer to your problem?

We have access to information so quickly that we might skip right over the One who has the most power in our lives. Psalm 29 reminds us of the power and the glory of God.

Praise the Lord, you heavenly beings; praise his glory and power.
Psalm 29:1

Do you remember a time that you sat outside and watched a storm roll in? The clouds quickly changing shapes and formations? The wind howling? The temperature quickly dropping? My family used to stand on our front porch and wait till the very last minute to run inside before the rain began to pelt us. My middle child would already be curled up in the basement storage room overcome with fear and yelling for us to hurry up and join her. We would eventually make it to our safe spot, especially when the sirens sounded. When the rain stopped we would make our way back upstairs and peer into the powerful sky.

We read in Psalm 29 that the voice of God makes the lightning flash. God is in control of the thunder, lightening, wind and the rain. God is in control of the storm and He is also in control of each person who puts his or her trust in Him. If you believe in God, than you also have access to the power of God.

The Lord gives strength to his people and blesses them with peace.
Psalm 29:11

When you go through a storm, literally or a personal storm of life, it is a good time to seek the voice of the Lord. We can hear His voice when we read this entire 29th Psalm and remember the Lord and His mighty power. Instead of seeking outside answers or encouragement, first seek the Lord and His power. The same God who thunders in the storm is the same God from whom all strength and blessings flow.

Job 1-3, Psalm 29, Revelation 10