He who overcomes will, like them, be dressed in white. I will never blot out his name from the book of life, but will acknowledge his name before my Father and his angels.
Revelation 3:5
Shanah Tova! Happy New Year! We just finished Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish new year. The fall festivals are beginning.
A common phrase for this time of year is “May your name be inscribed in the book [of life] for the next year.” The Bible talks about books with people’s names written in them. When Moses pleaded with the Lord to take away Israel’s sin with the golden calf, he said, “But now, please forgive their sin–but if not, then blot me out of the book you have written.” (Exodus 32:31) Revelation talks about a book, too: “Then I saw a great white throne and him who was seated on it. Earth and sky fled from his presence, and there was no place for them. And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Another book was opened, which is the book of life. The dead were judged according to what they had done as recorded in the books” (Revelation 20:11-12)
People instinctively want to be remembered. If I’m not remembered, did my existence mean anything? The ancient Egyptian rulers went to great lengths to be remembered, building great monuments and having their name written over and over. They promised their subjects that if Pharaoh was remembered and went to heaven (so to speak), he would see to it that the common people would make it, too. Even if you aren’t personally remembered, at least your family name is remembered. The Torah talks about carrying on the family name, aptly demonstrated in the book of Ruth. You live on through your descendants and/or by your fame. The ultimate insult is blotting out someone’s name. Ancient people erased names of those they didn’t want to remember. In a sense, it’s a fate worse than death. Everyone dies, but to blot their name out may erase them from existence!
May your name be written in the Lamb’s book of life for eternity as you trust in him for our salvation.