The Book Of Life

Philippians 4:3: And I intreat thee also, true yokefellow, help those women which laboured with me in the gospel, with Clement also, and with other my fellowlabourers, whose names are in the book of life.

Revelation 20:12: And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works.

The word books is plural. In addition to the book of life though it is not mentioned, there is apparently also a book of death.

Revelation 20:15: And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire. 21:27 And there shall in no wise enter into it any thing that defileth, neither whatsoever worketh abomination, or maketh a lie: but they which are written in the Lamb*s book of life. 22:19 And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book.

Job 12:9: Who knoweth not in all these that the hand of the LORD hath wrought this? 10 In whose hand is the soul of every living thing, and the breath of all mankind.

John 10:28: And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. 29 My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father*s hand.

It is not just that believers* names are written in the book of life. Their very persons are engraved upon the palms of God*s hands and their very lives are in His hands.

Spurgeon on Isaiah 49:16: Behold, I have graven thee upon the palms of my hands.

No doubt a part of the wonder which is concentrated in the word *Behold,* is excited by the unbelieving lamentation of the preceding sentence. Zion said, *The Lord hath forsaken me, and my God hath forgotten me.* How amazed the divine mind seems to be at this wicked unbelief! What can be more astounding than the unfounded doubts and fears of God*s favoured people? The Lord*s loving word of rebuke should make us blush; He cries, *How can I have forgotten thee, when I have graven thee upon the palms of my hands? How darest thou doubt my constant remembrance, when the memorial is set upon my very flesh?* O unbelief, how strange a marvel thou art! We know not which most to wonder at, the faithfulness of God or the unbelief of His people. He keeps His promise a thousand times, and yet the next trial makes us doubt Him. He never faileth; He is never a dry well; He is never as a setting sun, a passing meteor, or a melting vapour; and yet we are as continually vexed with anxieties, molested with suspicions, and disturbed with fears, as if our God were the mirage of the desert. *Behold,* is a word intended to excite admiration. Here, indeed, we have a theme for marvelling. Heaven and earth may well be astonished that rebels should obtain so great a nearness to the heart of infinite love as to be written upon the palms of His hands. *I have graven thee.* It does not say, *Thy name.* The name is there, but that is not all: *I have graven thee.* See the fulness of this! I have graven thy person, thine image, thy case, thy circumstances, thy sins, thy temptations, thy weaknesses, thy wants, thy works; I have graven thee, everything about thee, all that concerns thee; I have put thee altogether there. Wilt thou ever say again that thy God hath forsaken thee when He has graven thee upon His own palms?

You may contact Ron with questions, comments or prayer requests via email at ronsbibletopics@yahoo.com.

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