“But nothing unclean will ever enter it, nor anyone who does what is detestable or false, but only those who are written in the Lamb’s book of life.” – Revelation 21:27
The Holy City… New Jerusalem… the restoration of creation as God made it to be…. It WILL be glorious. It IS the future. But ONLY for those whose names appear in the Lamb’s book of life! How does anyone get their name in that book? There’s only one way: as a gift of God’s grace given through genuine, saving faith in Jesus Christ. The kind of faith that Jesus is the crucified and resurrected Lord of the Universe that alters one’s life forever. That recognizes that whoever or whatever you were like before you met Jesus, He’s always calling you to change. To get rid of your old ways and walk in the newness of a life in imitation of Him.
It doesn’t matter if someone calls themself a Christian. It doesn’t matter if they’ve raised a hand, walked an aisle, or been baptized. What matters is if they’ve entrusted their life to Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of their sins. Have you? Have you accepted God’s gift of grace and been made new creation? If so, you won’t persist in old habits that are detestable to God and false. God’s Spirit will nag at you until you repent and change your ways. He won’t give you peace until you crucify the old ways of your old self and begin to live your new reality as a child of God.
The same is true for those you care about. Are you desperate to see their names written into the Lamb’s book of life? Are you deeply concerned when you see them continue in false and detestable paths if they call themselves a Christian? You should be! As one year ends and another begins, who do you love enough to invite them into a transforming relationship with Jesus Christ? #FollowJesus