The Holy Bible is the only great book without a title. It’s so special it didn’t need one.
“Holy” means “set apart” from every other book, since it’s the only one from heaven. “Bible” is just the Greek word BIBLION, which simply means “book.” It’s THE Book.
Do you wonder why there are those long lists of names in the Bible?
First, because God notices us all. No one is unimportant to Him. He designed everyone for a purpose and never loses track of us on life’s journey.
Second, what we do in life matters. No one else may record the little kindnesses (or little sins) we do, but He does! In fact, He has a book that records our tears (Ps 56:8), and will eventually fix all that is broken in this world, wiping away every believer’s tears. (Rev 21:4)
Third, all those people still exist somewhere. Some in Jesus’ day didn’t believe in resurrection. To them He chided, “Have you not read what was spoken to you by God, saying, ‘I AM the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob’? God is not the God of the dead, but of the living.” (Mt 22:31-32)
But God has other archives in heaven, as the Bible says.
The first book mentioned records every birth and death date. When Israel sinned with the golden calf, Moses pled with God, “If You will forgive their sin — but if not, I pray, blot me out of Your book which You have written.” (Ex 32:32) Moses was willing to die for his people!
This book is mentioned elsewhere (Ps 69:28; 139:16 and perhaps Rev 22:19), reminding us that God knows us — from first breath to last gasp.
But there’s another book, even more crucial, called the Lamb’s Book of Life. This records not the day of our natural birth but of our spiritual birth, the day a person is “born again,” as Jesus said. Have you had such a day?
Speaking of heaven, we read, “But nothing unclean will ever enter it, nor anyone who does what is detestable or false, but only those who are written in the Lamb’s Book of Life.” (Rev 21:27, ESV)
Which reminds me! When I was a boy living in Canada, my father was a traveling minister of the gospel. One Saturday, the family took him to the airport. When he checked in, the agent called for a gentleman in uniform who led us to a locked door with three stars on it.
When the door opened, we were ushered into a plush VIP lounge, and offered snacks and drinks. This was long before frequent flier lounges. What was going on?
It turned out to be a mistake. The Minister of Transportation at the time was also named Nicholson, and thus our special treatment. Of course, my dad, who showed people the way to heaven, was really a minister of transportation, too!
There was a guest book in the lounge, filled with the names of the famous. My dad signed our names, and then added the words of the Lord Jesus, “Rather rejoice because your names are written in heaven.” (Lk 10:20)
Place your trust in “the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!” (Jn 1:29), and have your name added today in the autograph of God.
Jabe Nicholson of Starkville sometimes sounds like a fire alarm. He thinks there’s a fire. Reach him at: [email protected] or uplook.tv
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Quality, in-depth journalism is essential to a healthy community. The Dispatch brings you the most complete reporting and insightful commentary in the Golden Triangle, but we need your help to continue our efforts. In the past week, our reporters have posted 34 articles to cdispatch.com. Please consider subscribing to our website for only $2.30 per week to help support local journalism and our community.
