A devotional written by Alexis A. Goring
"I tell you the truth, everyone who acknowledges me publicly here on earth, the Son of Man will also acknowledge in the presence of God's angels.” ~ Luke 12:8 (NLT)
This devotional was inspired one summer night in July 2017.
I’d logged into my Facebook page and saw an update from one of my friends. She’s an author who’s working on a new novel. I’m one of her beta readers.
The message from my author friend noted how she would award her beta readers after her book was ready to be published. She said, “As a reward for being a HUGE part of this creation, you’ll have your name mentioned in my acknowledgments and you’ll get a free, autographed copy of the paperback when it releases.” As I read this note, Luke 12:8 came to mind and a parallel was formed!
I realized that book enthusiasts get excited when their name is mentioned in the acknowledgments of a book by one of their favorite author friends. It’s exhilarating that we though in most cases are not an author, played a role in helping the author create this polished book. We like to see our name in print. It gives us a feeling of significance and lets us know that the author wants us in their life.
But did you know that there’s a GREAT book that God wrote called The Book of Life? Everyone whose names are written in the Lamb’s Book of Life will be saved and go to Heaven when Jesus returns to Earth to take His faithful followers home.
Let’s read more about this in Revelation 21:22-27 (NIV): “I did not see a temple in the city, because the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are its temple. 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. The nations will walk by its light, and the kings of the earth will bring their splendor into it. On no day will its gates ever be shut, for there will be no night there. The glory and honor of the nations will be brought into it. 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.”
The Bible also says, “But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.” ~1 Corinthians 2:9 (KJV)
Now that is a happily ever after ending that I want for my life story! Heaven is going to be wonderful. The struggles we face here on Earth can’t compare to an eternal life free of sin and pain (2 Corinthians 4:17) that awaits us! Most importantly, having our names written in the Lamb’s Book of Life brings me so much hope and joy! It shows just how special and significant we are to God and it portrays the enduring, forever love that our Savior Jesus Christ has for humankind.
It’s wonderful to have our names mentioned by our favorite authors in the Acknowledgements section of their book but there’s one Author Friend’s Book that I most want my name to be in and that’s in the Lamb’s Book of Life. Jesus Christ is the Lamb of God and I want to be acknowledged in His book, don’t you?
So what can you do to be acknowledged by God? By committing your life to Him and accepting the free gift of salvation offered to you through the sacrifice of His Son Jesus Christ! Live your daily life in obedience to God. Study the Bible and apply its principles then watch your faith in God grow!
Remember, it is better to be acknowledged by God than by man.
