Bible Reading: Psalm 43; Revelation 3:1-11
“He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before my father, and before his angels” Revelation 3:5 (KJV).
I believe the Christian faith is not as fragile as some people erroneously present it. They tend to create fear and make people panic that after all their efforts, honest commitment and faithfulness; they could make an eleventh hour mistake that might cost them heaven. For such people who do not trust in the power and love of God to keep them till the end, making heaven is their major pre-occupation and usefulness. Relevance and kingdom-responsibility are seldom given the priority attention they deserve. The passion to make heaven at last drowns the passion for ministry here and now. Such people become so heavenly conscious and earth useless or irrelevant. To them, it makes no sense to labour and do ministry since one could miss heaven and the reward lost. They seem not to have guarantee or assurance of heaven.
Another extreme to be avoided is the belief that once one is saved, it doesn’t matter how one lives, heaven is sure. Such people work on the premises that lifestyle and character cannot erase sonship. For such people, heaven is guaranteed not minding how one lives, provided such one is born again.
The text suggests the possibility of one’s name being blotted out of the book of life. This pre-supposes that a name already written in the book of life can possibly be blotted out; Jesus cannot talk of blotting out a name that was never there in the first place.
The scripture stresses the need of overcoming, resisting sin, overcoming temptation, overcoming the world, overcoming the flesh, trials and standing persecution. It also talks of enduring to the end. It is not enough to receive Christ; one must remain in Christ. It is not enough to receive the gift of righteousness but one must walk in righteousness.
PRAYER: Help me Lord to overcome in Christ.
Rev. Vincent Diolu