The Library

Revelation 20:12-13, And I saw the dead, small and great, standing before God, and books were opened. And another book was opened, which is the Book of Life. And the dead were judged according to their works, by the things which were written in the books. The sea gave up the dead who were in it, and Death and Hades delivered up the dead who were in them. And they were judged, each one according to his works.

There is a commercial currently airing that reminds me of this passage (Experian).  It pictures an impressive old library with a number of balconies and notes that everyone has a volume on one of its shelves recording their life financial dealings.

Likewise I see a great, impressive library in God’s presence (based on Rev. 20 above).  Upon entering, one notes the millions of books it houses each with a different cover color and markings, size, and thickness (we each have a unique finger print, size and shape, and length of life).  There is a volume for every single person ever conceived (yes, those who never see the light of day have a volume).

Once the magnitude of the library is absorbed, one’s eye drops down to a large, very large volume upon a pedestal in the middle of the library.  It is the Book of Life.

Revelation 20:12 reports that all peoples will be someday called into the library to stand before God (the librarian) and have their book read to them.  All a person’s thoughts, acts, secrets, words, and attitudes will be exposed and based on those recordings, they will be justly judged and correctly rewarded (Ecc. 12:14, John 5:28-29).

And what about the large volume in the center of the library – the Book of Life? For those whose names are found therein – they are in – invited into God’s glorious world!  Their works will only matter for “blessings”.  (I Cor. 3:11-14, II Timothy 4:8, Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing.).

For those whose names are not written in the large centerpiece volume, their works will be noted.  However, there is a problem with all their works – they are all corrupted.  Yes, all!  Even their best works – faithful to church, giving time and money to the poor, and living a clean life – have pride and a lack of thanksgiving to God thus making them unworthy of blessing (Isaiah 64:4, Romans 1:21).

So, like it or not, our lives are being recorded (sounds like Siri, Echo, or Alexa) and like it or not, we will each stand before the judgment bar to receive a just reward from a judge Who is completely just and righteous.

The critical duty for each person is to realize that they are corrupted by self and thus not producing any good in God’s eyes.  Furthermore, just one single bad work (gossip, cursing, coveting, lying, stealing or anger) is enough to keep them from God’s perfect world.  The only hope and help is offered free of charge in Jesus.  Jesus’ perfect life and work can be applied to a person simply by faith.  True faith is marked by grief over sin, humbled by what Jesus had to do for them on a horrible cross, repentance – wanting to change, confessing – stating sins and need, and wanting to know and follow Jesus in all the coming days.

So, your volume is being written.  But is your name in the Book?  Your name is there if you weep over your sin, confess the work of Jesus at Calvary, and see Him as your Lord.