Growth and Maturity · Eschatology and Prophecy · Freedom and Victory · Holy Living · Eternal Life and Salvation
Overcoming? The Book of Life? What Does It Mean?
7 min read, approximately
“The one who overcomes will be clothed in white garments. I will not erase that person’s name from the book of life, but will acknowledge it before my Father and his angels.” (Revelation 3:5)
This verse reveals a great wonder! Long before we were born and able to reason, the Lord had already thought of us, established a purpose for us, and written our names in the Book of Life.
“For thou didst form my inward parts: Thou didst cover me in my mother’s womb. I will give thanks unto thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: Wonderful are thy works; And that my soul knoweth right well. My frame was not hidden from thee, When I was made in secret, [And] curiously wrought in the lowest parts of the earth. Thine eyes did see mine unformed substance; And in thy book they were all written, [Even] the days that were ordained [for me], When as yet there was none of them.” (Psalms 139:13-16)
However
there is also a condition in Revelation 3:5: “The one who overcomes”… Those who overcome will receive immense blessings!
“He that overcometh, I will give to him to sit down with me in my throne, as I also overcame, and sat down with my Father in his throne.” (Revelation 3:21)
“He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith to the churches. To him that overcometh, to him will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the Paradise of God.” (Revelation 2:7)
“He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith to the churches. He that overcometh shall not be hurt of the second death.” (Revelation 2:11)
“And he that overcometh, and he that keepeth my works unto the end, to him will I give authority over the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron, as the vessels of the potter are broken to shivers; as I also have received of my Father: and I will give him the morning star.” (Revelation 2:26-28)
But in What Way Must We Overcome?
“Follow after peace with all men, and the sanctification without which no man shall see the Lord:” (Hebrews 12:14)
By Being Holy!
“Wherefore girding up the loins of your mind, be sober and set your hope perfectly on the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ; as children of obedience, not fashioning yourselves according to your former lusts in [the time of] your ignorance: but like as he who called you is holy, be ye yourselves also holy in all manner of living; because it is written, Ye shall be holy; for I am holy.” (1 Peter 1:13-16)
Is It Possible to Be Holy?
But how is it possible to be holy, especially when evil abounds around us? Is this possible today?
But how is it possible to be holy, especially when evil abounds around us? Is this possible today?
Of course it is! One example is maintaining a close relationship with the Lord:
“Search me, O God, and know my heart: Try me, and know my thoughts; And see if there be any wicked way in me, And lead me in the way everlasting.” (Psalms 139:23-24)
Choosing to turn away from evil:
“But now being made free from sin and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto sanctification, and the end eternal life.” (Romans 6:22)
And living according to God’s Word:
“Wherewith shall a young man cleanse his way? By taking heed [thereto] according to thy word.” (Psalms 119:9)
The Book of Life
Whether our names remain written in the Book of Life depends on us. We decide whether to walk in holiness. Yet we must know that God is just and has issued a verdict on this:
“For the wages of sin is death; but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 6:23)
For example, God’s Word recounts:
“And it came to pass on the morrow, that Moses said unto the people, Ye have sinned a great sin: and now I will go up unto Jehovah; peradventure I shall make atonement for your sin. And Moses returned unto Jehovah, and said, Oh, this people have sinned a great sin, and have made them gods of gold. 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 Jehovah said unto Moses, Whosoever hath sinned against me, him will I blot out of my book.” (Exodus 32:30-33)
From this we understand:
“The soul that sinneth, it shall die: the son shall not bear the iniquity of the father, neither shall the father bear the iniquity of the son; the righteousness of the righteous shall be upon him, and the wickedness of the wicked shall be upon him.” (Ezekiel 18:20)
Therefore, it follows that:
“Let them be blotted out of the book of life, And not be written with the righteous.” (Psalms 69:28)
On one occasion, when Jesus’ disciples returned rejoicing that demons submitted to them, Jesus warned them:
“Nevertheless in this rejoice not, that the spirits are subject unto you; but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.” (Luke 10:20)
We must not underestimate this:
“And at that time shall Michael stand up, the great prince who standeth for the children of thy people; and there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation even to that same time: and at that time thy people shall be delivered, every one that shall be found written in the book. And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt. And they that are wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament; and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars for ever and ever.” (Daniel 12:1-3)
What Decision Will We Make?
We all have an expiration date, and:
“The one who overcomes will be clothed in white garments. I will not erase that person’s name from the book of life, but will acknowledge it before my Father and his angels.” (Revelation 3:5)
Otherwise:
“And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat upon it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them. And I saw the dead, the great and the small, standing before the throne; and books were opened: and another book was opened, which is [the book] of life: and the dead were judged out of the things which were written in the books, according to their works. And the sea gave up the dead that were in it; and death and Hades gave up the dead that were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works. And death and Hades were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death, [even] the lake of fire. And if any was not found written in the book of life, he was cast into the lake of fire.” (Revelation 20:11-15)
A tragic ending, is it not?… What do you say?
May God continue to bless you
and may you continue to have an excellent day in Christ Jesus!
I invite you to stop by the Songbook