Once upon a time in the days of the telephone directory, people chose whether or not they wanted their name and number in the book. This was referred as wanting to be ‘ex-directory’ – I choose not to have my name in the book.
There is a book that has been written and in great detail of everyone’s lives. A book in heaven called The Book of Life. This is mentioned several times in the Bible and of great significance! It is not you who gets to choose to be omitted, but Jesus who decides who’s in and who’s out!
In the Book of Exodus chapter 32, we read of a story when the Israelites made a golden calf to worship whilst Moses was upon the mountain with God. Upon returning, Moses was exasperated with the people and wanted to take the responsibility of this sin upon himself as verse 32 says:- “But now, if you will forgive their sin—but if not, please blot me out of your book that you have written.” But God responded in verse 33 with: – “But the Lord said to Moses, “Whoever has sinned against me, I will blot out of my book.” Who has NOT sinned against God? Are we all to be ‘blotted out’ of the book of Life? What can possibly take away our sin and prevent our name from being blotted out?
Nothing – but the BLOOD OF JESUS CHRIST – GOD’S SON.
We get to trade all our books of excuses, words, thoughts and deeds at the cross in exchange for the blood of Jesus being the sacrifice for all our SINS! He paid it all and enables our name to remain in the Book of Life! Halleluyah!!
With that news, why would you not want to live a life worthy of His name, carrying your cross daily and looking forward to His return? Well, some have a reputation and a name that they are, but Jesus in Revelation chapter 3, rebukes some for not continuing with that original passion and fire! And with that He warns them to repent, because only a few names were worthy to be called His and would NOT have their names ‘blotted out!’ This is Jesus warning a church! Could that be the church in these end days, where we become lukewarm and comfortable, not living upto and standing for the name of Jesus?
Once you know Jesus intimately and love Him with all your heart, and what He did to enable your name to be written in the BOOK, let us not lose our passion and purpose but be thankful always. Otherwise, you may become ‘ex-directory.’
