Have you ever made a dinner reservation and then when you arrived at the appointed time, you were told that your name was not on the list? Furthermore, despite a heated conversation with the host or hostess, you find out the wait for a table is over an hour, and to say you’re a bit upset is a gross understatement! You vigorously state you made the call days earlier and then you ask for the list to be checked again. Sadly, your name really isn’t there. Things are not going your way, and you end up leaving, bitterly disappointed, and vowing never to visit the restaurant again.
Imagine what it will be like one day when a person, standing before the Lord Jesus Christ, is told that his name is not on Jesus’ list… the one found in the Lamb’s Book of Life. This heavenly book is the reservation list for all those who have accepted Christ’s forgiveness of sins and made Him Lord of their lives. If a person has never accepted Jesus as Saviour, their name will not be found in His book. Admission into heaven will not be permitted. In fact, Jesus will say, “Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels:” (Matthew 25:41).
The Lord states this after the people are asking why they aren’t on the list. They thought they should have been because they had done things in life that were considered good, but Isaiah 64:6 reminds us, “But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away.”
Our salvation is not dependent upon anything we can do ourselves. Arguing with the Lord that our works and personal righteousness should entitle us to heaven will be futile. Jesus confirms in John 14:6 that, “…I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.” It is only through believing in His atoning work on the cross and His glorious resurrection and accepting His forgiveness for sins will we have eternal life in heaven… only then will our names be on His list in His book of life.
Imagine the joy that one who has been saved from their sins by Jesus will experience when they arrive to heaven. The Bible gives us a very limited glimpse into what true believers will find in heaven:
- A Divine Welcome
- “For so an entrance shall be ministered unto you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.” – 2 Peter 1:11
- Eternal Joy
- “Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore.” – Psalm 16:11
- No sadness
- “And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.” – Revelation 21:4
- Glorified bodies
- “Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.” – 1 John 3:2
- Constant presence of Jesus
- “And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:” – Ephesians 2:6
- Perfect Peace
- “Now the Lord of peace himself give you peace always by all means. The Lord be with you all.” – 2 Thessalonians 3:16
Wow! This is one list you definitely want your name on!
Lord, I care not for riches, neither silver nor gold;
I would make sure of heaven, I would enter the fold.
In the book of Thy kingdom with its pages so fair,
Tell me, Jesus, my Savior, is my name written there?
Is my name written there on the page white and fair?
In the book of Thy kingdom, is my name written there?
Lord, my sins they are many, like the sands of the sea,
But Thy blood, O my Savior, is sufficient for me;
For Thy promise is written in bright letters that glow,
“Though your sins be as scarlet, I will make them like snow.”
Is my name written there on the page white and fair?
In the book of Thy kingdom, is my name written there?
(from “Is My Name Written There?” by Mary A. Kidder)
“And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.” – Revelation 20:15
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If you’re not sure your name is written in the Lamb’s Book of Life, today is a good day to make sure!