Of all the Bible subjects which could be studied, a meditation upon the Book of Life can be one of the most informative and thought provoking.  People have many ideas about many things in this life and in the life to come which can be upheld or refuted by this magnificent study.  I would ask you, therefore, to take up your Bible and consider the things written here.
     A question that comes to mind immediately is, what is the Book of Life?  This seems like an easy question at first, but upon contemplation, the best way to answer this question is to ask and answer a few other basic questions pertaining to the Book of Life.
     What is in it?  Anytime we pick up a book, we expect that something is written therein.  Most of the time we don’t know what is within the pages of a book unless we are told.  This is the case with the Book of Life.  God, in his infinite wisdom, saw fit to tell us what will have been written in the Book of Life when the day of judgment rolls around.  In Luke 10:20, in speaking to His disciples, Jesus said, “......rejoice, because your names are written in heaven.”  We may inquire just exactly where their names were written in Heaven.  Paul wrote, “And I intreat thee also, true yokefellow, help those women which laboured with me in the gospel, with Clement also, and with other my fellowlabourers, whose names are in the Book of Life”  (Philippians 4:3).  With John telling us that the Book of Life is in Heaven (Revelation 20:11-12) we may safely conclude that the faithful of God are written within its pages.
     What is not in it?  Again, when we pick up a book and read the cover, we may expect certain thing to be found within and others not to be there.  Can we ascertain what will not be in the Book of Life?  We can....if we accept what is written within the pages of the Bible.  John was given a very vivid description of what is going to happen in the day of judgment.  Within this vision he saw the fate of those who were faithful unto God.  He also saw what happened to the unfaithful.  It is written, “And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. And whosoever was not found written in the Book of Life was cast into the lake of fire”  (Revelation 20:14-15).  How do I know this is speaking of the unfaithful?  Jesus said, “He that overcometh shall not be hurt of the second death”  (Revelation 2:11).  With these things in mind, let us conclude that what is not in the Book of Life is the names of those who are not faithful.
    Can a name be taken out of it?  We understand what is in the Book of Life.  We understand what is not in the Book of Life.  The next logical question pertains to the permanency of what is written in the Book of Life.  Is it possible for a name which is written within the pages of the Book of Life to be blotted out so that the person is cast into the lake of fire in the last day?  Opinions make no difference upon this subject, but what is written within God’s  Holy Scripture does.  Jesus said upon this matter, “He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the Book of Life, but I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels”  (Revelation 3:5).  Yes, I agree that this is a promise to the faithful that their names will not be blotted out, however, it also indicates that it is possible for a name to be blotted out.  Why else would the promise be made?   Listen to a conversation between Moses and Jehovah.  “Yet now, if thou wilt forgive their sin--; and if not, blot me, I pray thee, out of thy book which thou hast written. And the LORD said unto Moses, Whosoever hath sinned against me, him will I blot out of my book”  (Exodus 32:32-33).  Again, listen to the words of our Lord, “And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the Book of Life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book”  (Revelation 22:19).  The “part” which we have in the Book of Life is our names (if we are faithful), and the Lord plainly says that our “part” can be taken away.  Therefore, let us not deny this plain Bible teaching.
     How do I get my name in the book?  If the unsaved are not written in the book and the saved are written in the book, the answer should be obvious, be saved.  How, then, does a person obtain salvation?  By being obedient to the commands of God.  Paul said, “....faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God”  (Romans 10:17).  We must hear what the Word has to say in order for it to produce faith which is also necessary.  Jesus said, “....if ye believe not that I am he, ye shall die in your sins”  (John 8:24).  We must also repent of our sins.  It is written, “Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out” (Acts 3:19).  This is not simple sorrow, though sorrow is involved.  It is sorrow over what we have done against God and a purposing not to do those things again as well as purposing to do those things which are pleasing to God.  The next step would be to confess Christ before men.  As Philip was teaching him, the eunuch spoke up and asked, “See, here is water; what doth hinder me to be baptized? And Philip said, If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest. And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God”  (Acts 8:36-37).  If you are willing to do all these things and confess Christ as the eunuch did, you may be baptized as well.  But what is the purpose of baptism?  Is it to show the world you are already saved?  No.  It is for (or into) the remission of sin (Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins - Acts 2:38).  It is to put one into the body of Christ (For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ - Galatians 3:27).  It is by the authority of Christ and “in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit” (Matthew 28:18-19).
     Will you believe those things which are shown to you from the Word of God?  If so, choose the "Question and Answer" option below and send me a message.