I don’t know about you (of course), but I’ve spent a fair bit of time pondering the situation I find myself in, adopted into God’s family, yet often forgetting to think like it, much less act the part.  Oh, I’m good at lecturing myself about my imperfections…too good…the joy and confidence and resulting motivation to please Him fall victim to my perfectionism – that superego (Freud’s word) that sits on my shoulder and points out all my errors in hopes that I’ll give up & go sit in my corner, attempting nothing.  Enough of that, back to the point…

James MacDonald (Walk in the Word) is currently doing a series on Revelation, today’s scripture is Rev 20.  I’ve often thought about the final judgement, and more specifically, how much I don’t want every wayward or frivolous expression brought out for everyone to see and perhaps comment on.  So many things I’ve done & said, when I fully knew better.  James’ presentation of the opening of the books struck me.  Each person in turn will be reviewed, first in the Book of Life, the list of names of those who have accepted Jesus as their atonement, savior, Lord.  If a name is not found there, it will be looked up in the other books, where every deed, thought, word, and rejected opportunity are listed.  (!REWIND!) If a name is not in the Book of Life, the biographical record will be examined.  Conversely, if a name is found in the Book of Life, “Next!” – there’s no call to look in the biographical record, whether it has a few sentences or a few chapters, it won’t even be entered into evidence – it’s irrelevant!  Wow…hmm…no need to worry about all the scribbles on the pages with my name, because the important scribble is my name in the priority one book.

So…on with the ‘Roller Coaster’ day…things to do, and all that.

I dashed through lunch to go be helpful, and I tossed off a little “hope You notice I’m doing something nice, here”, and instantly got the following reply:  

“Oh, did you want me to look in THAT Book?  Weren’t you just thanking Me for not looking there?”

Hmm… point taken…  yes, please, I’m very thankful that You won’t be looking in the Books of Dead Deeds, my name’s in the Book of Life, and that’s all the farther You’ll need to go.

In case you’re as slow as I can be on the uptake, any brownie points we think we’re earning are recorded in the same place as all our failures.  It’s the scales or the cross, the book of deeds or the Book of Life.  Choose wisely.