In Philippians 4:4 – Paul wrote to them – “Rejoice in the Lord alway – or at all times – & again I say rejoice“ When we rejoice there is a reason. Rejoicing does not mean that you always have a big smile on your face – that is not possible, but it is to rejoice in your heart. There are different things to rejoice about.
Luke 10:20 “Notwithstanding in this rejoice not, that the spirits are subject unto you; but rather rejoice, because your names are written in Heaven.” The disciples came back after being sent to preach the Gospel & they rejoiced over their success – we would have done the same & Jesus did not blame them, but He wanted to show them there is more than that.
We rejoice & have a reason for what God did for us in the past year – but God wants to show us the MOST important thing. Jesus said here – that the most important is that their names were written in Heaven. We can forget it, taken up with so much round about us.
Rejoicing in our names being written in Heaven for that determines our future. In harvest time people rejoice, because the job is done & they have a right to rejoice, but there is more to it than that they’re not only glad that the job is through, but they have reason to rejoice that the crop is now in safety & even more – that there is food for the future – lives can be preserved in future. So God wants us to rejoice in the most important things.
In the world, people are taken up with making a -name- for themselves. The people built the Tower of Babel because they were afraid to be scattered & they wanted to make a name & the result was confusion & being scattered anyway because of what they did. To establish a name only leads to confusion, but if we allow God to write our names in Heaven it will be different.
The rich man tried to establish his name on the earth & many looked up to him and some feared him – he had a big name on the earth, but no name before God. Lazarus had not much to offer & the rich man managed to ignore him – but he had a name with God. The rich man saw no necessity to open his eyes on the earth, but the time came that he had to open his eyes & he saw Lazarus who had a name written by God. If we want our names to be written in Heaven, we must get a new name – only a new name can be written in Heaven & be acknowledged by God.
Abraham & others got a new name & the reason for it was that God spoke to them & showed them what could be accomplished in their lives – they had an experience with God. Jacob wrestled with God – he didn’t want to give up & he got victory, then he got a new name. We must be careful for there is a possibility for that name to be blotted out. So we are responsible to keep the name that God gave us there.
In Rev. 7 – we read the messages God gave to the 7 churches. In the messages to 3 of the churches, the word ‘names’ is mentioned.
Rev. 2:17 – “To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the hidden manna & will give him a white stone & in the stone a new -name- written, which no man knoweth saving he that receiveth it”. Several times it is mentioned “to him that overcometh …. He shall receive.” If we want a new name in Heaven we will have to overcome & become victors & not be overcome by the enemy. Many things can disturb our fellowship with God & we can lose our name.
Amazing how things can remain for years & then spoil our fellowship with God. There is the possibility of losing my name written in Heaven, but better it is to lay aside that which can be a hindrance & spoil my fellowship with God or with my brothers and sisters.
I enjoyed another special thought – Jesus said to His Father in Luke 10 – In that hour Jesus -rejoiced- in spirit & said “I thank Thee, O Father, Lord of heaven & earth, that Thou hast hid these things from the wise & prudent & hast revealed them unto babes, even so, Father, for so it seemed good in Thy sight. All things are delivered to me of my Father & no man knoweth who the Son is, but the Father & who the Father is, but the Son & he to whom the Son will reveal Him.”
There is a connection between these words of Jesus & those words written in Revelations about the “hidden manna”- that was the bread for the spirit to feed on. Jesus rejoiced that it was hidden from the wise & prudent – this manna from God, having fellowship with God &His people. We enjoy what others don’t know.
We can hide something & when things are scarce – we can give it to one we love & the receiver will appreciate it because it is precious. The manna we get these days is precious because it is scarce.
But, We can all lose the name that God gave to us. When you get this stone you can lose or mislay it. When a name is engraved on a stone it is not easy to erase it for the stone is solid & firm but we can lose the stone. We need To do all we can to keep this stone white & unblotted.
These things are revealed to babes – little children – speaks of purity & undefiled. The stone is white, pure & undefiled. What we are entrusted with is undefiled & clean. We have to keep it clean so that it can remain with us.
There is a connection between these 2 verses – “A new name written, which no man knoweth saving he that receiveth it”. That is the personal relationship between us and God. “no man knoweth the Son, but the Father; neither knoweth any man the Father, save the Son & he to whomsoever the Son will reveal him.” That personal relationship to God is very precious. To those around us, it is a puzzle to them & they can’t grasp or understand how we serve God or why, but we know it is acceptable & it pays.
In Rev. 20 – it tells us of the Books that were opened in judgment: “& I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened & another Book was opened – which is the Book of Life – & the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the -books- according to their works. Then the sea gave up the dead which were in it & death & hell delivered up the dead which were in them, then they were judged every man according to their works. Then whosoever was not found written in the Book of Life was cast into the lake of fire.”
The day of judgment will come & the different books will be opened. During our life, we write our own book. Some people at the end of their life try to write a record of different events that they want to pass on to future generations – a memoir. We are all writing our lives’ book & when that day comes, it will be opened & also the Book of Life of those who served God & were willing to serve God in His Way & follow Jesus – will enter into the joy of Heaven & their reward. But if one’s name is not there in the Book of Life – there will be no access into Heaven & the glory of God.
The book we are writing determines the measure of our reward. If our names are not in the Book of Life, there is no entrance for us into Heaven. May we realize what it means to have our names in that Book and do all to keep it there. It is the most important thing for us to have our names there in the Book of Life in Heaven.
Truth Archive 