Names written in the book of life...

A cab driver reaches the pearly gates. St. Peter looks him up in his Big Book and tells him to pick up a gold staff and a silk robe and proceed into Heaven.

Next in line is a preacher. St. Peter looks him up in his Big Book, furrows his brow and says, "Okay, we'll let you in, but take that cloth robe and wooden staff."

The preacher is shocked and replies, "But I am a man of the cloth. You gave that cab driver a gold staff and a silk robe. Surely I rate higher than a cabbie!"

St. Peter responds matter-of-factly, "This is Heaven and up here, we are interested in results. When you preached, people slept. When the cabbie drove his taxi, people prayed."

There are hundreds of jokes and stories centered around this idea of entering heaven based on our works or accomplishments. The sad thing is that many people believe that is how it works. They think that some how the good is weighed against the bad and perhaps if there is enough good things on the list they will make it in to heaven.

Let's take a look at what scripture says in today's reading from the One Year Bible(link available on links page of this site).

Revelation 20   Judgment at the Throne of God

¹¹ Then I saw a great white throne and Him who sat upon it, from whose presence earth and heaven fled away, and no place was found for them. ¹² 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 from the things which were written in the books, according to their deeds. ¹³ And the sea gave up the dead which were in it, and death and Hades gave up the dead which were in them; and they were judged, every one of them according to their deeds. ¹⁴ Then death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death, the lake of fire. ¹⁵ And if anyone’s name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.

This text does in deed say that "they were judged, every one of them according to their deeds". Let's look a little closer though. It says in verse 12 "and books were opened; and another book was opened, which is the book of life". We see then from this scripture that there are two sets of books which are used for the judgment. There are those who are judged according to their deeds and there are those who's names are wriiten in the book of life.

Regardless of what is written in the accounts of our deeds, the only basis for eternal life is for our name to be written in the book of life. We can  not accumulate enough good works or deeds to enter into heaven. If there were one question that would be asked at the entry way to heaven it would be the same question Jesus asked His disciples in Matthew 16.

¹³ Now when Jesus came into the district of Caesarea Philippi, He was asking His disciples, “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?” ¹⁴ And they said, “Some say John the Baptist; and others, Elijah; but still others, Jeremiah, or one of the prophets.” ¹⁵ He *said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” ¹⁶ Simon Peter answered, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” ¹⁷ And Jesus said to him, “Blessed are you, Simon Barjona, because flesh and blood did not reveal this to you, but My Father who is in heaven.

Jesus asks that question of each one of us. Who do you say that I am? The only answer to the only question that matters is the one Peter gave, our answer must be “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”  

In John 14:6 Jesus says  “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me.

Acts 4:10-12 says by the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead—by this name this man stands here before you in good health. ¹¹ He is the stone which was rejected by you, the builders, but which became the chief corner stone. ¹² And there is salvation in no one else; for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among men by which we must be saved.” 

Philippians 2:10-11 says at the name of Jesus every knee will bow, of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth, ¹¹ and that every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

There are many who will argue that this Christian view is narrow and unfair. They ask why God would exclude those of other faiths and beliefs? My answer to them is only that I don't have the answer, it's not my problem because I am not the one who set the standard. God did. 2 Peter 3:9 says  The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance. God set the standard and God desires that none should perish.  I believe therefore that He has determined a way that all people will have an opportunity to recognize and answer Jesus, saying as Peter did “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” God was able to reveal His salvation to those of faith even before the birth of Jesus. He was able to give a revelation of Christ to the thief on the cross. Luke 23:

³⁹ Then one of the criminals who were hanged blasphemed Him, saying, “If You are the Christ, save Yourself and us.” ⁴⁰ But the other, answering, rebuked him, saying, “Do you not even fear God, seeing you are under the same condemnation? ⁴¹ And we indeed justly, for we receive the due reward of our deeds; but this Man has done nothing wrong.” ⁴² Then he said to Jesus, “Lord, remember me when You come into Your kingdom.” ⁴³ And Jesus said to him, “Assuredly, I say to you, today you will be with Me in Paradise.”

With that acknowledgment, "Jesus, Lord", the thiefs name was wriiten in the book of life. I am glad it's not up to me to reveal Christ to every person, but I trust that God has it figured out.

One final thought, as Jesus asks that question today, who do you say that I am? Recognize this that your answer to His question is also the answer to every need in your life. Jesus is the Christ, the Messiah, the Lord and Savior. He is also I Am, the all in all.