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You know what I love? I absolutely, unashamedly, adore a brand new journal. All those unmarked pages just begging for some inspired words. Perfectly blank, crisp and clean opportunities to pour out my thoughts, prayers, ideas, and inspirations. A new journal...a new beginning!
Whenever I finish with one journal and begin a new one, I approach with great caution. I select a pen that will not be drippy, or blotchy. I use my very best penmanship, and carefully organize each new entry. I wonder if God felt that same way the first time He cracked open the "Lamb's Book of Life." As He thumbed through the fresh, empty pages and thought of each name He wanted to write in it, as He thought of your name and my name, of my neighbor's name, and my sisters, etc.
Was He filled with excitement at the potential these blank pages held? Did He chose the perfect pen, one that wasn't drippy or blotchy? (does Heaven even contain anything but perfect pens?) Maybe His heart felt a twinge of sadness over all that would be required before one name could be written in His book? Maybe, He felt much like a mother in labor, knowing that pain was unavoidable, but new life would be the end result, making the pain worth the labor?
Almost as much as I love starting a new journal, I love when I have filled one up from cover to cover. I love to look back and see all the things that God has done throughout the journey of this particular journal: what prayers have been answered, what heartaches set right, what ways God has chipped away at a brokenness inside of me and carved it into something that looks more like His heart, what things I still don't understand. Ahhh, there is nothing like a full journal!
As I was thinking about all of this the other day it struck me that God's heart must be so sad at all of the blank pages that remain in His book. I so look forward to that day when He calls us home but I cannot help thinking what a tragedy it will be when that day comes and the "Lamb's Book of Life" is cracked open and thumbed through only to reveal blank pages.....blank pages that should be filled with the names of those I know who have not given their life to Christ: my neighbor, the store clerk, my friend at the bank, all those people on my Facebook friend list, all of those people I SHOULD have told about Jesus. Here are a few Scriptures about that day:
Revelations 20:15 Anyone whose name was not found written in the book of life was thrown into the lake of fire.
Revelations 21:22 I did not see a temple in the city, because the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are its temple. 23 The city does not need the sun or the moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gives it light, and the Lamb is its lamp. 24 The nations will walk by its light, and the kings of the earth will bring their splendor into it. 25 On no day will its gates ever be shut, for there will be no night there. 26 The glory and honor of the nations will be brought into it. 27
Nothing impure will ever enter it, nor will anyone who does what is
shameful or deceitful, but only those whose names are written in the
Lamb’s book of life.
So my challenge today is simple, spend some time thinking and praying about whose name you would like to see written in the "Lamb's Book of Life?" I promise God would like to see their name written there also. Seek God's face on this and see what part He would have you play in writing that perfect entry in His book. When we get to Heaven I hope there is not one blank line in His book! Let me know how I can encourage you in this journey! Blessings :) Marla
