My business has me staying in a lot of hotels. When I walk into a hotel there is always that anxious moment that my name won’t be on the list. Many times these reservations are made for me by someone else, and so it’s often a guess as to what name they used.
I’ve stayed in some pretty lousy hotels, but I’ve also stayed in some that are absolutely beautiful and way beyond my means. When you step into them you realize that this is a really nice hotel. It feels pretty good when you step up to the reception desk to be greeted by the hotel staff and asked “how can I help you?”
“I believe I’m staying here”, is often my response. As I hand them my identification there is always that moment you wonder if your name will be there. I’ve been to the wrong hotel before, and that’s an awkward moment. Is it the other one that is across town?
There is coming a day when we will all stand before God and our name will either be on the list or it won’t and today it’s important to take a moment and think about your life. Is your name written in the Lamb’s Book of Life?
Revelation 20:11-15 Then I saw a great white throne and Him who sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away. And there was found no place for them. And I saw the dead small and great, standing before God, and the books were opened. And another book was opened, which is the Book of Life. And the dead were judged according to their works, by the things which were written in the books. The sea gave up the dead who were in it, and Death and Hades delivered up the dead who were in them. And they were judged, each one according to his works. Then Death and Hades were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. And anyone not found written in the Book of Life was cast into the lake of fire.
If you think you are in awe when you walk into the lobby of a Hyatt Regency or some other extravagant hotels imagine the day you will approach the throne of God? Heaven and earth cannot begin to look upon His glory, they must flee says verse 11.
Can you envision what this day will be like? All will be judged by two standards. Two books are opened. One contains our works. Everything we’ve ever done will be judged. All our works brought into judgment by a God so awesome we can’t even look upon His glory; so glorious the earth and heavens flee from Him.
In the beginning of his heavenly vision John fell to his face as if he were dead at the awesome sight of the resurrected Christ. This is not a God that is the “Big Guy” upstairs. He is God and He is to be worshipped and feared, because He will judge according to our works.
Every thought you’ve ever had, every nasty little thing you’ve done, every remark you’ve ever made about someone. As I think deeply about my thought life I’m repulsed by who I am. I need Jesus. I need Him to cleanse me; I need Him to purify me, because when the books are opened I’ve got no chance outside of His righteousness.
Revelation 21:6-8 And He said to me, “It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. I will give of the fountain of the water of life freely to him who thirsts. He who overcomes shall inherit all things, and I will be His God and he shall be My son. But the cowardly, unbelieving, abominable, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death.
Do we see the transition here to the answer for eternal life?
He who thirsts… He who overcomes…
How do you get this thirst and how can you possibly overcome? Only through Christ is the answer. He is the only One that can satisfy. In myself I’m cowardly, unbelieving, abominable, murdering, sexually immoral, sorcerer, idolater, and liar. I have no hope.
My sin is my problem. Jesus Christ is my remedy.
Romans 3:21-24 But now the righteousness of God apart from the law is revealed being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets, even the righteousness of God, through faith in Jesus Christ to all and on all who believe. For there is no difference; for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus…
We’ve all sinned and fall short of the glory of God. None is righteous in His sight. But God is rich in mercy and sent Jesus Christ to live the life we couldn’t live to justify those who believe in Him as their only hope.
It’s the Good News!
The big question is do you believe that? And will your name be written in the Book of Life?
Repent and turn from your sins if this is a God you do not know, believe in Him and believe His work is sufficient to save your soul.
Kevin
Uncommon Faith 