Wednesday, January 24, 2018

January 25, 2018

"Then I saw a great white throne and him who was seated on it. The earth and the heavens fled from his presence, and there was no place for them. And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Another book was opened, which is the book of life. The dead were judged according to what they had done as recorded in the books. The sea gave up the dead that were in it, and death and Hades gave up the dead that were in them, and each person was judged according to what they had done. Then death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. The lake of fire is the second death. Anyone whose name was not found written in the book of life was thrown into the lake of fire."  Revelation 20:11-15

What you believe about eternity will have a profound influence on how you live your life today!

Even if you aren't conscious of it, your view of eternity factors in your value system and behavior.

If you are one who believes life ends at death and there is no afterlife you will be motivated to pack in as many sensual experiences as you can ever day. You will be guided by the "eat, drink and be happy for tomorrow we may die" value system. And if this life is all there is, why not!?

Should you believe in some version of universal salvation that, too, will guide your values and priorities. For instance, if you believe that we are all essentially good people and God is a good and loving God Who would never send anyone to hell that will guide your moral code. Or, you may hold the belief that Jesus died on the cross to provide salvation so we are all saved and Heaven is assured. That will influence how you behave. Maybe you are of the belief that Heaven is gained through a merit system and if your good deeds outweigh your misdeeds you will earn you way to Heaven. If that is your belief then it will frame your moral code accordingly.

But if you are a Bible-believing follower of Christ you will understand you are sinful by nature and morally depraved. Not only are you unable to save yourself but you are uninterested in doing so. Until the Holy Spirit of God moves in your spirit to convict you of your sin and call you to Himself, you will remain spiritually separated from God. Until you confess your sinfulness and repent of your sins you will not know Jesus as your Savior. But from the moment you accept Jesus as Savior and enter into a spiritual relationship with God, your values, desires and priorities immediately undergo a radical change! You know that your name is written in Heaven and you have eternal life. Once you begin following Jesus you start living with eternity in mind. You understand that you are accountable to God and that you will have to be judged on your "permanent record". Because of the blood of Jesus and the grace of God, your "permanent record" will not keep you out of Heaven but it will determine your reward once you get there.

Your earthly actions get eternal traction! What you did yesterday, the decision you are making today and what you eventually do tomorrow will be recorded in Heaven!

Today will you order your life with the end in mind? Will you live with eternity's values in view? 


This Is Going On Your Permanent Record!

"And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Another book was opened, which is the book of life. The dead were judged according to what they had done as recorded in the books. The sea gave up the dead that were in it, and death and Hades gave up the dead that were in them, and each person was judged according to what they had done. Then death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. The lake of fire is the second death. Anyone whose name was not found written in the book of life was thrown into the lake of fire." Revelation 20:12-15



This may date me but I remember back in my school days having a teacher remind me about my "permanent record".

It went something like this, "You know, Bradley, (I hated when they call me that) this will go on your permanent record so do your best!"

While it is hard for a kid to get his mind around a permanent record it sounded ominous and it motivated me to do my best.

I don't know if that ever happened to you and I doubt if it still happens. But as I became more familiar with the Bible I came to understand that there actually IS a "permanent record" as revealed in the Revelation of John.

In his vision John is shown two books that will be opened in Heaven before the throne. Everything that every person had done during their earthly life is recorded in one book. Think of it EVERYTHING you have done in your life is in the book. How does that make you feel? Those things you did when no one was looking and you were sure no one knew are all in your permanent record. There could be some awkward moments before that throne on that day.

Twice it says in these verses that what they had done during their life is recorded in that book and each will be judged based on that permanent record.

You can't do anything about what is already recorded in your book but you can, by the grace of God through Jesus Christ and in the power of the Holy Spirit make sure your future record is much more pleasing to God.

So, my teachers were right! They were more right than they even knew! There is a permanent record. That permanent record is in Heaven. What you did yesterday is recorded there. What you have done thus far today is in that book. What you do the rest of the day will be in that book!

How then should you live today in light of your permanent record?

What if you mindfully stopped prior to each decision you will make today and ask yourself, "Do I want this on my permanent record?" If your answer is "no" then don't do it!