What Is The Book of Life?
It Is Written
In essence, the Book of Life serves as a testament to those saved who will enjoy eternity with the Lord, as shared in Christianity.
The Book of Life is a record containing the names of those who have been pardoned from the punishment of sin by accepting Jesus as Christ and have been born again through the holy spirit As defined in All About God,
...the Book of Life contains the names of the redeemed—those who will live with God forever in heaven.
God keeps good records. He knows His own, and He has set the names of His children permanently in His book, as expressed in Got Questions.
Wikipedia further explores definitions in both Christianity and Judaism stating that,
... it is the book in which God records the names of every person who is destined for Heaven and the World to Come. According to the Talmud, it is open on Rosh Hashanah, as is its analog for the wicked, the Book of the Dead.
In the scriptures, it is also referred to as the Lamb’s Book of Life which contains the name of those who are redeemed and saved.
Book of Life in the Scriptures
The Bible speaks of the Lamb's Book of Life in Revelation. The importance of the Book of Life is established in this chapter.
In Jack Zabada’s article “What Is the Book of Life?”, he shares that the Book of Life,
...assures that God knows his true followers, keeps and protects them during their earthly journey, and brings them home to him in heaven when they die.
The book of Revelation puts emphasis on the Lamb as essential imagery, which serves an important role as it looks as though he has been slain and opens a scroll no one else can, which sets off a chain of events to enact the End of Days, as explained in Christianity’s article.
“If anyone’s name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.”
This is an eternal sentence. The lake of fire is the destination created for Satan and it looms eternally before those who reject and rebel against God.
“For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
The truth is, we are all sinners. We’ve missed the mark that God has set for us. Although the penalty for sin is death, we were all saved through our faith in Christ.
The Lamb, of course, is Jesus Christ, who was sacrificed for the sins of the world. Unbelievers, however, will be judged on their own works, and no matter how good those works may have seemed by human standards, they cannot earn that kind of salvation.
It is only when you receive Jesus in your life and acknowledge Him as your Lord and Savior that your name is unblotted. Unblotted names found in the Book of Life guarantee salvation in Heaven.
God Calls You By Your Name
“The one who conquers will be clothed thus in white garments, and I will never blot his name out of the book of life. I will confess his name before my Father and before his angels.”
As we go on with our daily lives, it is necessary to shift our focus to the importance of having our names in it. No other salvation exists, except through Jesus Christ.
“Nothing impure will ever enter it [heaven], nor will anyone who does what is shameful or deceitful, but only those whose names are written in the Lamb’s Book of Life.”
We are challenged to be ‘overcomers’ in Got Questions’ article where it is expressed that,
...an overcomer is one who is victorious over the temptations, trials, and evils of this world—in other words, one who is redeemed.
When we are redeemed through our faith in Jesus Christ, our names are written in God’s registry which holds the promise of eternal security. An abundance of blessings awaits those whose names remain unblotted.
Is your name written in the Book of Life?
If not, take time to talk to God and express your desire for salvation. It is only through a meaningful relationship with God can He see through our intentions and call us by our names.
Recommended readings for a more meaningful relationship with God.
How To Trust God In The Middle of Uncertainty
A Busy Person's Guide To Spending Time With God Throughout The Day