| “Then they that feared the Lord spake often one to another: and the Lord hearkened [listened], and heard it, and a book of remembrance was written before Him for them that feared the Lord, and that thought upon His name” (Malachi 3:16). |
| “And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened … and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works” (Revelation 20:12). |
| “And there shall in no wise enter into it [the holy city] anything that defileth [sinful] … but they which are written in the Lamb’s book of life” (Revelation 21:27). |
| Earlier this year we spoke about the book of remembrance mentioned in the book of Malachi, but in our verses today we see that there are other books that God keeps. We do not usually think of God’s keeping books, and maybe they are not actual books as we know them. However, God does keep records of a number of things. Many years ago, before the days of computers, people used to question how God could possibly keep track of everything that we say, do, or think. Of course God can do anything, but since the invention of computers, we see how easily vast amounts of information can be stored on a very small computer chip. |
| First of all, we are reminded again that the Lord values it very much when we think about Him, and speak about Him. Back in the days when Malachi lived, about 400 B.C., there were only a few people in Israel who thought about the Lord, and spoke to one another about Him. He was so pleased with them that he kept a careful record of what they did. Today, when the world is tending to give up the Bible, the Lord still really appreciates it when we think of Him, and speak about Him. |
| But then the second verse for today is very serious, for someday the Lord is going to judge those who have not accepted Christ as their Savior. In order to make everything perfectly clear, the Lord will open his records, where everything that those people have done is recorded. They will not be able to argue, or get a smart lawyer to get them released. Everything will be perfectly just. How very solemn it will be to have to stand before a holy God, who knows all about them! |
| Finally, we read about the book of life, and in our third verse it is called the “Lamb’s book of life.” The Bible uses this name because the Lord Jesus, as the Lamb of God, suffered for us so that our names could be written in that book of life. The book of life is mentioned a number of times in the Bible, and it has the name of every believer in it. Is your name written in the book of life? |
