For the past 3 or 4 weeks the words – blotted out – have beckoned to my mind once in a while. But this morning, while I was praying, those words came with insistence and a sense of urgency.
God so loved (John 3:16) the world. The world – that would have to include every person born a human being. That says to me that God gave a personal certified cheque to each and every individual. It would pay their sin-debt in full and guarantee eternal life to them. At the moment of their birth God recorded their names in the Book of Life.
Consider a few verses with me:
Beware that you do not scorn or think little (Matthew 18:10) of one of these little ones. This could not refer just to very young children but must include all children up to the age of their individual understanding – plus all adults who will never, in this life reach understanding because of deficient mental capacity. In the event of their death they will go immediately to heaven because they are enrolled in God’s Book. Salvation is not automatic or universal. It is individual and only through the shed Blood of Jesus. For all these “little ones” their salvation cheque has been cashed and credited to their account. Their guardian angels are continually in God’s Presence on their behalf.
If a person with full mental ability continues to do wicked things – rejects God’s offer of mercy and refuses to cash his cheque – he will be blotted out of God’s Book of Life. A person who does wicked things because he is totally unaware due to a mental disorder – will be in heaven because his cheque has already been cashed for him. I think this fact could do much for our understanding and compassion. I long to and need to understand more of the tremendous scope of the atonement.
All will be delivered (Daniel 12:1) whose names are written in the Book of God’s plan – because they have yielded to and co-operated with God’s plan. Let them be blotted out (Psalms 69:28) of the Book of Life and not be enrolled with those who are in right standing with God. Their name could not be blotted out of the Book if they were not already recorded in it.
In His message to the churches, God says to some individuals (Revelation 3:5) I will not blot out or erase his name from the Book of Life. If any person calls himself a Christian based on religion – good works – rites or rituals, etc. his name will be blotted out. Everyone starts off with their name there, but something is missing. Something is missing which is vital – essential – mandatory for eternal indelible sealing in the Book of Life.
Take me as a for instance. The moment I was conceived in my mother’s womb, even though I was already a sinner, God recorded my name in His Book of Life. Later when the Holy Spirit enlightened and convicted me, I received the Lord Jesus Christ as my personal Saviour. Then – at that very moment – God (figuratively speaking) dipped His pen in the precious, priceless Blood of Jesus and underlined my name in Rich Royal Red. Nothing and nobody (John 10:28) can cross that Blood Line and erase my name. No power in heaven or earth or hell can blot me out. That underline is the Blood foundation of my eternal sealing into the very Life of God. Not because of anything I’ve done except to cash my salvation cheque at Calvary where Jesus died for me so needy and helpless to help myself.
Whosoever will call (Romans 10:13) on the Name of the Lord – whosoever chooses to cash his salvation cheque will receive the eternal foundation as God underlines his name in Royal Red.
Every person according to his own choice has been granted, room at the Cross where his sin can be atoned for, paid for and removed from him forever. If he chooses to reject God’s grace he will retain his sins and suffer eternal punishment. By his own choice (Revelation 20:15) his name has been erased, blotted out! We who have this grand assurance of eternal salvation (John 3:30) must decrease. WHY? So that Jesus can increase. HOW? Choose to deny SELF at every turn and decrease into God’s purpose so that Jesus can increase in me to accomplish God’s purpose in and through me. What a shameful travesty if I or any Christian being assured of heaven and yet live a self-filled life which has no concern for God’s purpose.
I have a habit of stealing which I’d like to share with you. Try it! I think you might enjoy it. Sometimes an old song tune will be persistent in my head. It might be a nice song but I don’t want those words. I want to sing praise to my King. So several times I have stolen/borrowed the tune from a song (or even from a hymn or chorus) and write my own simple words to express of what is in my burning heart for my precious Saviour, Master and Lord. The following is just a small example. The starting words will remind you of the tune of the old song.
I have a never-ending love for You,
To obey You, Lord is all I want to do;
And when my life on earth is through
I still have never-ending love for you.
On a sunny day we thank God for His beautiful sun. Every moment of every day we thank God for His glorious – victorious – conquering SON.
(Don’t we?)
Our life on earth is not about our troubles and trials. It is about the Lord continuing His good work in us by using those very troubles and trials so that more and more we will reflect the glory of the image of our God. If we hope and pray that “such and such” won’t happen and it does happen - - remember that it is beneficial for us because (Romans 8:28-29) it is one of the ALL THINGS.
If my ongoing desire for my life matches God’s unfolding purpose for my life – I am (Romans 8:37) more than conqueror through the One Who never stops loving me.
