“And if anyone’s name was not found written in the
book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.”
Revelation 20:15
The impact of this last verse in Revelation 20 was powerful in the tender heart of an eleven year old girl. In the latter years of my service at EFCC in children’s ministry, we had developed a class for older elementary called ‘Truth for Life Believers Academy’ in which we taught foundational doctrines of Christianity. It was my blessing to teach some of these classes. Most of these students had heard the Bible stories for years and since we knew kids wanted to know the truth in a deeper way, the class was well received. I remember a student saying to me, “thank you for taking us seriously,” after a class.
Toward the end of the classes, we entered into Eschatology or the study of future things. On this particular Sunday, we were looking at Revelation 20. It became clear there are just “two destinies for the human soul.” We read about the books that judged the resurrected dead “according to what they had done” on earth. The book of life was opened at the same time as the ‘books’ were opened but this book does not have deeds recorded, only names written. Only the saved are in the book of life; those who trusted in God’s plan of salvation recognized it is through the righteousness of Christ that anyone gains entrance into the new heaven and new earth. “And if anyone’s name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.” (Rev. 20:15) There was a profound moment of silence as the students pondered these truths. An eleven year old girl stood and said, “Then we better tell them.” She got it! This is our mandate to tell the world near and far the gospel.
From The Bible Knowledge Commentary by Dr. John Walvoord of Dallas Theological Seminary is a statement about these verses and mandate:
“… as far as biblical revelation is concerned there are only two destinies for human souls; one is to be with the Lord and the other is to be forever separated from God in the lake of fire. This solemn fact is the motivation for carrying the gospel to the ends of the earth whatever the cost, and doing everything possible to inform and challenge people to receive Christ before it is too late.” p. 983
Do you get it? Do we get it? “We better tell them.”
Prayer: Dear Father, help all of us see the urgency of telling others about your gift of salvation. Please give us courageous hearts to tell others before it is too late for them. Please give us Your love to speak the truth. In the name of our Savior, Amen.
Francie Overstreet
EFCC Member