Judge Me By That Book!

Daily Reading:  Revelation 20

And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Then another book was opened, which is the book of life... And if anyone's name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire. (Revelation 20.12, 15)

Devotional Thought:  One day, all the dead – whether great or small, whether saint or sinner – will be raised up and called before God's throne.  In that inescapable Presence, the books will be opened.  In those books are recorded the deeds of all the men and women of history.  Those records will be the basis upon which saints and sinners are rewarded. 

There is another book.  It is the Lamb’s book of life, and the contents of that book determine the destiny of every man, woman and child in history.  For those whose names are written in the Lamb’s book of life, there will be eternal reward in the presence of God.  There will be unending joy and peace and love.  Praise be to the Lamb!  By his blood he purchased these souls for God and sealed their destiny!

But what of those who have rejected Jesus?  What of those who have not received forgiveness and eternal life in him?  The Bible is plain: they will be thrown into the lake of fire with Satan and the demons.  There will be eternal punishment and anguish and regret.  They are not there due to a lack of love on God’s part – for God loves everyone in the world and gave his Son to die for them.  They are there because they refused to accept God’s gracious gift.  They themselves have chosen their final destiny.

Friends, what are we doing to win the lost to Jesus?  Our friends, family members, neighbors and coworkers will all spend eternity in one of two places.  Christ has done his part to offer them salvation.  They must do their part.  So, let’s do our part to help them do their part.

Prayer: Lord, thank you for the Lamb's book of life.  Thank you that you record there the names of all who receive you and believe in your name.  I want to be judged by that book, for it is the book of God's greatest deed - the redemption of mankind.  Amen.

Psalm of the Day: Psalm 106:6-12

6 We have sinned, even as our ancestors did; we have done wrong and acted wickedly.

7 When our ancestors were in Egypt, they gave no thought to your miracles; they did not remember your many kindnesses, and they rebelled by the sea, the Red Sea.

8 Yet he saved them for his name’s sake, to make his mighty power known.

9 He rebuked the Red Sea, and it dried up; he led them through the depths as through a desert.

10 He saved them from the hand of the foe; from the hand of the enemy he redeemed them.

11 The waters covered their adversaries; not one of them survived.

12 Then they believed his promises and sang his praise.