By
Pastor Scott Denham of Harvest Fellowship,
Clarinda
Herald Journal Publication Date : 06/13/2007
"If
your name is written in the book of life, can it be taken off the record?"
Eight times, the Scriptures mention
the book of life, that catalog kept by God of the Redeemed—those people who are forgiven, saved, and bound for heaven. Whether
metaphorical or literal, the names of the Redeemed are "written in"
this record (Rev 20:15). Those who continue in a lifestyle of sin, have their
names "blotted out" (Rev 3:5).
To address your question, you should
know that there are two primary and differing views. One view is that God keeps
those who are saved and they cannot fall away from faith. God's irresistible
call to salvation is accompanied by persevering faith. The opposing view agrees
that God calls the believer, but that love demands that he or she must
voluntarily respond to God's call. That freedom to respond also implies the
freedom to reject God’s grace, and so fall away.
I am primarily of that second school
of thought. Nonetheless, the more I study this issue, the more I have come to
feel that both of perspectives have a degree of merit, but are impossible to
know with exacting detail.
The first approach sees a person
apparently come to faith in Christ, but later, when they return to their former
sinful state, they conclude, "That person must have never been saved in
the first place." The second approach sees the same man and says, "He
was genuinely saved, but he has fallen away from God."
The important point—one that often
gets overlooked in the heat of theological debate—is that the end result for
that person remains the same. All of the discussion does not alter the ultimate
destiny of the man. People who continue in faith are saved, and those who do
not, are lost. Truth is, only God knows the final destination of each person
with absolute certainty. We in turn, are left to wonder.
What we know for certain is this:
Those who put their trust in Christ, and follow in "the obedience of
faith" (Rom 16:26), can rest secure that they belong to God and are bound
for heaven. "Their names are written in the Lamb's book of Life" (Rev
21:27), and they have the assurance of eternal life (1 John 5:13).
I suspect that your real question
may be; "Is there hope for me?" Do you feel that you have failed God
and wonder if He still loves you? Do you wonder if He will take you back? These
deep questions, sincerely pursued and humbly brought to God, will be wonderfully
answered. God is waiting, ready to forgive every returning prodigal (Luke
15:11-24). While the theologians continue to ponder, God continues to forgive.
--Pastor Scott (www.askpastorscott.com)