The City Built of God

"Written in the book"

What a tremendous promise and comfort God offers to His faithful people in Daniel 12:1 -- we "shall be delivered, every one that shall be found written in the book"! After the trials and testings of this life, deliverance comes to the redeemed. As we go through this life with the Master, we can anticipate entering into "that holy city, new Jerusalem" which shall be opened only for those "which are written in the Lamb's book of life" (Revelation 21:2, 27).

Is your name written there? Read these next verses and be sure!

"He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life" (John 3:36). "He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved" (Mark 16:16). "He that hath the Son hath life" (1 John 5:12). Those three statements may be brief but they are also sure. Jesus is the only way. Walk with Him in newness of life and your name is written in His book.

"He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels" (Revelation 3:5). "Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven" (Matthew 10:32). Be true to the Master in word and deed, and He will leave your name in His book. Furthermore, when you stand before God Himself, the Lamb shall speak for you!

Being an overcomer can look very difficult. Well, looks are not deceiving this time, because victorious Christian living is difficult. It's a battle, in fact. But the only wise God our Saviour " is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy" (Jude 24). Amen!

Promises for the journey

We, like Abraham, (ought to) have our eyes fixed on a destination which gets ever closer. But the journey gets long. And difficult. And even dreary at times. The previous section has some promises from the One who is both our goal and our Fellow Traveler. Perhaps you, like I, could use a few more.

"For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord" (1 Thessalonians 4:16,17). What a day that will be! And we know it will come because Jesus said so.

"But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you" (Matthew 6:33). Do you see any exceptions here? I don't, though I do see the conditions. God is always faithful to His promises. Let us be faithful to the conditions!

"But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus" (Philippians 4:19). When His riches diminish then we can expect our supply to diminish. But, praise God, his riches are limitless!

"Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid" (John 14:27). Have you experienced this peace of God? I have, and I thank Him for allowing it in my life which has been so full of turmoil and testings of late.

"Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him" (James 1:12). Hang in there! Don't give up! Be strong! Be faithful! The Lord has promised a sure reward!

"And this is the promise that he hath promised us, even eternal life" (1 John 2:25). What a powerful promise contained in such a short verse!

"But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin" (1 John 1:7). We have been richly blessed with the fellowship of the saints and the cleansing of His blood. That promise is contingent on our walking in His light. I'll gladly do that; will you?

"And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose" (Romans 8:28). As I walk among and through the dark pits of despair, this is a promise that strains my ability to believe. Nevertheless at His Word, I'll believe it.

"There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it" (1 Corinthians 10:13). When I'm tempted and there seems no way to escape, I must keep looking for that way. Because God put it there somewhere.