Not in the Book

 •  2 min. read  •  grade level: 6
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When our flight from Canada arrived in Boston, everyone had to go through the usual United States immigration check. However, this time there was a special check for criminals and terrorists. Each person had to step up alone to an official in uniform who had a special yellow book in front of him.
When my turn came, he asked my name and I told him. He opened his book to a page that had a list of names. Then he asked where I was born. When I told him, he again checked in his book. Then he said, “OK, you may go now.”
I was very glad my name was not found in that yellow book or I would have been arrested.
God has books too. He has written down everything that every person in this world has ever said or done. Even what we think is written down in God’s books. Did you realize when you were telling a lie or taking something that did not belong to you or when you were disobeying your mother that it was being written down in God’s book?
Someday God’s books will be opened. You will stand before Him and He will look up your name and read to you what He has written down. He knows everything about you, and you will remember that what He reads is all true.
God is very fair, and so He has another book He will look at. It is called the Lamb’s Book of Life. When anyone accepts the Lord Jesus as their Saviour, He gives eternal life to them. “Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on Me hath everlasting life” (John 6:4747Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me hath everlasting life. (John 6:47)). Then their name is written down in the Lamb’s Book of Life. They will never have to stand before God as their Judge, because their sins are blotted out in God’s other book. “I have blotted out, as a thick cloud, thy transgressions, and, as a cloud, thy sins.  .  .  .  I have redeemed thee” (Isaiah 44:2222I have blotted out, as a thick cloud, thy transgressions, and, as a cloud, thy sins: return unto me; for I have redeemed thee. (Isaiah 44:22)). They will already be with Jesus in heaven when that other book is opened. “I will come again, and receive you unto Myself; that where I am, there ye may be also” (John 14:33And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also. (John 14:3)).
Is your name written down in the Lamb’s Book of Life? or is it still in God’s other book?
“Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth My word, and believeth on Him that sent Me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation [judgment]; but is passed from death unto life” (John 5:2424Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life. (John 5:24)).
ML-04/25/1999