The Bible tells us that God knows everything, and that He is keeping a record of our lives. On the Judgment Day, we will be required to give an account of what He has recorded (Romans 14:11-12). “And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works” (Revelation 20:12). When we stand before God in judgment, it will be too late to change our eternal destiny.
God sees both the good and the evil that we do. He knows our very thoughts and attitudes—good or bad. “Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight: but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do” (Hebrews 4:13). We will be judged by the record of our deeds. “For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil” (Ecclesiastes 12:14).
The Choice Is Ours
In this life we can choose to follow Christ and his teachings or to follow the desires of our sinful flesh. In Galatians 5, the Bible lists the sins of the flesh. These are “adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like” (Galatians 5:19-21). If we are guilty of these, this scripture tells us we cannot inherit the kingdom of God. By the grace of a loving heavenly Father, we receive forgiveness when we repent and believe in Christ. The blood of Christ then covers our sins and erases them from the record.
The Bible also lists the fruit that is produced in our lives when we surrender to God. “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance” (Galatians 5:22-23). It is a miracle of grace that we can have this fruit associated with our names in the records in heaven.
The Word of God warns us about the pitfalls and perils that will confront us, “This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away” (2 Timothy 3:1-5). It is evident that conditions in the world are not favorable to Christian living. We are surrounded by evil of every description. Since we are accountable for our every word and deed, we must make those choices that will bring forth the fruit of the Holy Spirit in our lives.
There are many passages in the Bible that warn us about neglecting our salvation. “And if the righteous scarcely be saved, where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear?” (1 Peter 4:18). “And the Lord said unto Moses, Whosoever hath sinned against me, him will I blot out of my book” (Exodus 32:33). “Come, see a man [Jesus], which told me all things that ever I did” (John 4:29). Although these are sober words, God has promised to forgive our sins when we repent and believe in the atoning blood of Christ. Instead of blotting out our names, He will blot our sins from the records.
Is Your Name in the Book of Life?
In order to have our names written in the book of life, we must accept the invitation of Jesus: “Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:28). No one is exempt from the guilt of sin without the atoning blood of Jesus. Because of his love, He voluntarily shed his blood on the cross for our sins. Jesus said to Nicodemus, “Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God” (John 3:3). He also said, “Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 18:3). Jesus invites everyone to come to Him and be saved from sin.
After our names have been written in the book of life we do not want to have them erased. Jesus says, “Behold, I come quickly: hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown” (Revelation 3:11). And again, “Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak” (Matthew 26:41). These verses warn us to be watchful and not to neglect our commitment to serve God. Satan, the enemy of our soul, is described as a roaring lion that will devour us if we do not firmly resist him with faith (1 Peter 5:8-9). We need to search God’s Word and be constant in our prayers, or else our salvation may slip away from us. We are promised, “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).
Be Ready for the Judgment Day
Today is the day of grace, an opportunity to set our house in order and to prepare for the judgment day. When we die, our mortal bodies will return to dust. But when Jesus returns to judge the world on the resurrection day, everyone will receive an immortal body that will live eternally in heaven or in hell. If there is any stain of sin on our hearts, let us turn to Jesus today to have it washed away. Then we can be ready to enter heaven on that great and notable day. “And there shall in no wise enter into it any thing that defileth, neither whatsoever worketh abomination, or maketh a lie: but they which are written in the Lamb’s book of life” (Revelation 21:27).