Your Name, Not a Blank

Blank, empty space and void of your name – is this what anyone really wants to see looking into the Book of Life? As my husband and I were discussing some points from Revelation recently, he read this statement to me from his bible in a footnote by Reverend C.I. Scofield, “The book of life is there to answer such as plead their works for justification – an awful blank where the name might have been.” Boy, does that get your attention!

In Matthew 7:22-23, we find the following, “On the Judgment Day, many people will say to me “Lord, Lord, didn’t we prophesy in your name and expel demons in your name and do lots of miracles in your name?” Then I will tell them, I’ve never known you. Get away from me, you people who do wrong.” (CEB) * I cannot imagine hearing those words; however this passage does make one think about knowing for sure if your name is written in the Book of Life.

In my study for this devotion, I found five (5) characteristics that are found in the believer. I have titled them the 5 C’s of a Christian. The first C is confession. 1 John 5:1 says, “Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ has been born from God.” You must first believe, and you have to confess Jesus as Lord.

Change is the second C, and from 1 John 2:29 we read, “If you know that he is righteous, you also know that every person who practices righteousness is born from him.” When we are saved by Jesus it changes how we act, speak and think.

For the third C we have compassion. Love is an often repeated theme in 1 John; therefore we look to 1 John 4:7 for this reference. “Dear friends, let’s love each other, because love is from God, and everyone who loves is born from God, and knows God.”

The fourth C is conflict. We face plenty of conflict in the world, we have an adversary that we must struggle to overcome; but we also have a promise that we will achieve the victory. Look at 1 John 5:4: “because everyone who is born from God defeats the world. And this is the victory that has defeated the world: our faith.”

The fifth and final C is conduct. “Those born from God don’t practice sin because God’s DNA remains in them. They can’t sin because they are born from God.” 1 John 3:9. I would like to clarify this using the explanation I read by Dr. David Jeremiah. He states: “John is not saying that whoever sins once is not born of God. That would disqualify all of us. It would certainly disqualify me. But John is saying, in effect, “Whoever keeps on willfully sinning, violating God’s law with stubborn disregard and ongoing wickedness, cannot have assurance of salvation.”

As I said above, I can’t imagine looking into that great Book and seeing a huge blank space where my name could have been. If you are reading this today and are not saved take steps to ensure you do find your name in the Book of Life before it is too late.

That day we stand before HIM

They will call out each name shown.

If your name isn’t listed…

Your opportunity has flown.

To be included in this book,

Should be your chief desire.

If your name is not recorded…

You’ll be cast into the fire.

C.C.

* All scripture references from the Common English Bible (CEB)