The Book of Life

October 31, 2014October 31, 2014 ~ Suzanne Davis Harden

Angel Writing In The Book Of Life Pen & Ink Illustration © S.D. Harden All Rights Reserved.

Revelation 3:5

“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.”

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 20:11-15

“And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them.

¹²And 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.

¹⁵And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.” ~St. John writing in his vision

The Book of Life

God cherishes each one of us. The bible says that “God our Savior…wants everyone to be saved and to understand the truth.” (1 Timothy 2:3-4) Jesus Christ told Nicodemus, a religious leader who came to Him one night, ^“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.” ~(John 3:16-17)

The Lake of Fire mentioned by St. John in the book of Revelation was prepared by God as an eternal punishment for the devil and the angels that rebelled against Him.

It was never intended for man whom God made in His own image.

Yet, the first man and woman, Adam and Eve, fell away from God when they rebelled against His command. The result was spiritual death and a loss of divine fellowship.

dore_ae-paradijs_grt — Gustave Dore Adam & Eve Expelled From Paradise

All of their children would, like them, be sinners or rebels against God. They would never be able to enjoy perfect fellowship with God because God is holy and cannot dwell with sin.

God’s word says that sin must be paid for with a sacrifice. Hebrews 9:22 says: “In fact, according to the law of Moses, nearly everything was purified with blood. For without the shedding of blood, there is no forgiveness.”

The only One worthy to pay for our sins, to redeem our souls from eternal destruction and to bring us back into fellowship with God, was God Himself, for He alone is perfect among all His creation. He is sinless, spotless, without blemish.

God the Son, Jesus Christ, came to earth clothed in flesh so that He could become a living sacrifice and shed His holy blood to pay for our sins. He loved us that much.

Christ-on-the-Cross-Oval-Silhoette — Christ on the Cross ~ from the San Xavier del Bac Mission

God could not die unless He became human. That is why He had to be made like us. He suffered a horrible death on the cross so that our sins could be forgiven and so that we could live in Paradise with Him forever.

Not only did He want us to enjoy eternity with Him, He wanted us to be able to enjoy fellowship with Him now.

Once we accept Jesus Christ into our hearts, we become God’s own children. The Father sends His Holy Spirit into our hearts to seal our salvation as a sure sign that we belong to Him. We will never be alone again from that point because He will never leave or forsake us. His love will keep us firmly in His strong grip. He will help us weather every storm. He will meet our every need. He does not promise freedom from trials-for “many are the afflictions of the righteous,“ God’s word says, “but the Lord delivers him out of them all.”

My Testimony

The moment I invited the Lord Jesus Christ into my heart I felt a beautiful peace envelop me and a warm glowing presence filled the room. I heard the Lord speak to my heart. “All will be well, You are going to be all right.” I was only 16 years old.

As I lay in my bed that night filled with Christ’s peace I saw an image in my heart of an angel writing my name in a huge book. Though I had gone to Catholic school, I had never heard about the Book of Life. I wondered what the vision meant.

Not until I began to read the bible on my own through the discipleship of our neighbor did I learn about the Book of Life and what that vision meant.

God was showing me that He had recorded my name in His book of life that night when I had accepted the Lord Jesus Christ into my heart.

It comforted me to know that my name was written up in Heaven.

When I grew up and my children were in Sunday school I created a picture of an Angel writing in the Book of Life. I made it into a Sunday school book cover for the children in the church we were attending. I wanted it to comfort them to know that after they had accepted the Lord as their Savior, their names were written in Heaven, and when the Last Day comes, and the books are read, they will be judged “Not Guilty,” because they are wearing the righteous robes that Jesus has given them. Their sins have been washed away by the blood of the spotless Lamb of God.

How do our names get into God’s Book of Life? The Book of Romans says: “That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.

For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.

For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.

For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him. For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.” ~Romans 10:9-13

That night when I was 16 years old I simply called upon the name of the Lord and He came to me. God is no respecter of persons. The Lord Jesus said He would never reject anyone who called upon His name. (John 6:37) And once a person receives Him into their heart, He will write their names in His Book of Life.

PRAYER

Heavenly Father, may You bless all those who call upon the name of Thy Son Jesus Christ and write their names in Thy Book of Life. May they live with You forever. Thank You, Lord, In Jesus’ name. Amen.

The Prayer Song “The Book of Life” is from my new Album “Paths of Peace”~available on Itunes, Amazon, CDBaby, and on my music website http://www.peacefulprayersongs.com

Prints of the Angel Writing in the Book of Life are available in my Etsy shop as Notecards and as a Triple Matted Fine Art Print.

http://www.etsy.com/shop/WingsPublications

God Is In Control

February 19, 2014 ~ Suzanne Davis Harden

Lord, Thou Art In Control

Lord Jesus, Thou art in control
No matter how things appear;
Help me trust and walk by faith,
My road will soon be clear;
For my prayers You always hear,
You know what’s best for every soul
And You are ever near.
In Jesus’ name, amen.

Prayer Poem © SDHarden 2014 ANGELSONG Photo Source:Google

Christ Prays For You

February 18, 2014 ~ Suzanne Davis Harden ~ 3 Comments

Hebrews 7:25
“Therefore Christ is also able to save to the uttermost those who come to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them.”

Romans 8:34
“Who is he who condemns? It is Christ who died, and furthermore is also risen, who is even at the right hand of God, who also makes intercession for us.”

Thank You, Lord, For Praying…

Thank You, Christ, my Savior,
Though none may know my name,
You are up in Heaven, Lord,
And there for me You pray.
You know all of my needs,
You’re with me everywhere,
You love me more than I could know
And for me deeply care.

And every night and day
You’re praying for my needs,
You know them all, yes every one,
Not one can hide from Thee.
And when I sometimes fall
You come and help me stand;
You don’t condemn, you just forgive
And wash me clean again.

Oh Jesus, this I know,
Though none might for me pray
You are praying for me, Lord,
Yes, every night and day.
And I will thank You, Lord,
For You know all my cares,
And You are ever in control,
Who prays and hears our prayers.
In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

The Choice

February 16, 2014 ~ Suzanne Davis Harden

Mark 10:21-22
Then Jesus, looking at him, loved him, and said to him,
“One thing you lack: Go your way, sell whatever you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, take up thy cross, and follow Me.”
But he was sad at this word, and went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions.

“Good Teacher,” said the young man,
“What must I do to be saved?”
And Jesus looked in His eyes
He loved the young man He’d made.

And Jesus looked in His eyes,
Though rich, the man was a slave;
Now seeking the things of God;
Jesus loved the man He had made.

And Jesus looked into His eyes
“And so you seek to be saved…”
Keep the commandments of God—
All of the ones He gave…”
The young man stood up tall
And He looked at the Lord with pride,
“I’ve kept them all from my youth,
Yes, since I was a little child.”

And Jesus peered in His eyes,
Looked deep in His very soul,
“One thing, My son, you lack,
And then you’ll be made whole.”

The man looked up at Jesus,
His eyes a puzzled stare,
“Give all you have to the poor, My son,
Then follow Me everywhere.”
Trade your earthly riches
For those you cannot see…
Let go of all you have, My son,

And come and follow Me.
My son, come follow Me,
And give to Me your life,
And I will meet your every need;
I’ll never leave your side.
Don’t trust in what you see,
Don’t trust in what you have;
Trust in One who gives good things
To those with faith to ask.

My love will carry you
Down every path you take;
I’ll carry you to heaven,
Your heart I won’t forsake.”

The young man looked at Jesus,
Then sadly walked away.
He would not trade His riches
For the Savior’s path of faith.
He would not trade His riches
For the heart of Jesus’ love,
And He walked away from Jesus
Choosing wealth over God above.

Illustrations
“Christ and the Rich Young Ruler”~ Painting by German Painter Heinrich Hofman (1824-1911)
“For He Had Great Possessions” Painting of Rich Young Ruler by George Frederick Watts (British Portrait Painter 1817-1904)