A friend of mine came into a drop-in center the other day waving an item in her arm and announcing that the new phone books were in. At that moment, another friend was reminded of a comedy movie in which actor Steve Martin's character showed a whole lot more excitement about the arrival of his phone book. I had to go to YouTube to watch the clip, since I wasn't familiar with the movie.
In the scene, he jumped up and down excitedly as he had received his own copy of the updated newly published phone book. He frantically searched the pages until he found his name and shouted, "Page 73, Johnson-Mavin. R. I am somebody now! Millions of people look at this book every day! This is the kind of spontaneous publicity that makes people! I'm in print! Things are going to start happening to me now!"
We laughed together as we watched the clip but as I thought about it, I couldn't help but be reminded of another book.
Your local phone book is full of thousands of names. Each person in that book is personally known by God and extremely valuable. It's an amazing truth to consider that we were created on purpose by God and loved by Him and wanted by Him despite the fact that He knows all of our disobedient deeds, words, and actions. We are naked before God and He says that He will bring every work into judgment, including every secret thing, whether good or evil (Ecclesiastes 12:13–14). Not one of the people named in your phone book has the ability to cleanse you of your sins or put your name in the most important book of all, which is also filled with millions of names. God does not need to keep such a book since He is infinite and knows all, but such a book does exist. It is called, The Book of Life.
The people whose names are in this book are children of the King and joint heirs with Christ. These people have eternal life that can never be taken away (Please read Ephesians 1). They will have the greatest privilege of all people who ever lived: to serve and worship the King of Kings in a perfect place with no sorrow or pain for all of eternity (Revelation 21:3-4)!
How did these people get their names in this book? Did they earn the right to go to Heaven? Were they born into the right family? Neither is true. According to God's Word, these people were born again into God's family, through faith in Christ (John 6:40). These people were saved from their sins. They had a moment in their lives when they looked to the cross and understood that they were the guilty sinners whom Christ died for.
Billions of people will not have their name written in the book of life-to their utter horror-because they thought they could earn God's favor, which is impossible (Ephesians 2:8–9). Salvation is not found in any other name in your phone book, and in no other name under Heaven. It is only achieved through the work of Jesus Christ, who took the punishment for yours sins at the cross (Acts 4:12). Is your name in the Book of Life? God promises your name will be there if you repent from living life your way and turn to Christ as the one who can cleanse you and give you new life with Him that lasts forever (John 20:31). If you refuse Christ alone as your Savior, as the only One who can bring you to God, Revelation 20:15 tells the result: "Anyone whose name was not found written in the book of life was thrown into the lake of fire."
Please say yes to God's love for you and become someone-His child forever (John 1:12).
Becky Kew shares Good News at Sandy Bay First Nation, Manitoba, Canada. BeckyKew@outlook.com
