INDELIBLE INK, OR INVISIBLE INK? -- Devotional for May 6, from "Good Seeds"

Only those whose names are written in the Lamb’s book of life shall ever come into the Holy City. Those whose names are not found written in the book of life will be thrown into the lake of fire. (Revelation 21:21,27; 20:15)

An old hymn says, “There’s a new name written down in glory and it’s mine, oh yes it’s mine. And the white robed angels sing the story: a sinner has come home…with my sins forgiven I am bound for heaven, never more to roam.” Where are these names written? Revelation gives the answer: in The Lamb’s Book of Life. When someone gets saved, two things happen in heaven: FIRST: the angels burst into songs of rejoicing (Luke 15:7). (I wonder if the souls of saints who’ve gone on before will be singing along?) And SECOND: The name of the new Christian is recorded in our Lord’s personal “Forever-Family Log Book.” And He doesn’t use pencil, either, but writes with permanent, indelible ink! Then someday, as suggested by another old hymn – and rooted in Scripture – there will be a roll call in heaven: “On that bright and cloudless morning when the dead in Christ shall rise and the glory of His resurrection share; when His chosen ones share gather to their home beyond the skies, and the roll is called up yonder, I’ll be there!” How does one get his name into God’s roll book? Confess – first confess that you are a sinner, lost and condemned; and second, confess Jesus as your Savior. Revelation 20:12 talks about this book of life, but then it mentions other books, too, in which are recorded all the deeds of all mankind. And all men will be “weighed in the balances and found wanting.” It’s not a matter of good deeds being compared to bad, for by that standard many people (wrongly) assume their good will win out over their bad. No, the only question will be, “Have you ever, or have you never, sinned?” One sin will send a man to hell. But, praise God, one righteous deed will take that man to heaven – the deed of Christ’s death on the cross. We receive Him, He writes us in. It’s as simple as that. But if there are millions of names written in the Lamb’s Book of Life in indelible ink, why is it that so many act as though their names were written in invisible ink? These are the names of invisible saints, who would rather keep their faith a secret. Why? Some for fear of persecution, maybe. That’s understandable, but overcome-able. But others lay low and remain anonymous so they can still dabble a bit in the world. Somehow I think the celestial singing stops right about then! Are you a soul heaven rejoices over, both for your salvation, and your service? Is your name written in indelible, or invisible, ink?