LARCHMONT HAPPENINGS:

Good Friday Service on Friday, April 6th at 7:00 PM

Easter Eggstravaganza for children on Saturday, April 7th from 2:oo to 4:oo PM.  There will be games, candy, prizes, and a maze depicting Christ's journey to the cross and his resurrection. 

Easter Service on Sunday, April 8th at 10:45 AM

Each Saturday - Men's Bible Study @ 9:00 AM

Third Saturday of each month at 10:00 AM - The Food Pantry is open to all who are in need.

Fourth Saturday of each month at 10:00 AM - Our Clothes Closet is open to the community.

Women's Fitness Class each Thursday at 7:oo PM

WEEKLY DEVOTION:

"Is Your Name in the Book of Life?"

The Bible talks about a book that is called the book of life.  This book is mentioned a number of times in Scripture.  It is mentioned in Revelation more than in any other book of the Bible.  For instance, Revelation 21.27 says, “Nothing impure will ever enter it, nor will anyone who does what is shameful or deceitful, but only those whose names are written in the Lamb’s book of life” (see also Rev 3.5; 13.8; 17.8; 20.12, 15).  This book contains the names of all those who will inherit eternal life.  If your name is in this book, then you will go to heaven when you die.  If your name is not in this book, then you will be separated from God forever in hell.  Hopefully, you can see how important it is to have your name listed in the book of life.  Here are a few things to keep in mind when considering the book of life.

First, you can know if your name is in the book of life.  Once after Jesus’ followers returned from a successful time of ministry, he said to them, “However, do not rejoice that the spirits submit to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven” (Luke 10.20).  Their names were written in heaven in the book of life, and Jesus assumed that they could know this and rejoice about it.  How could you rejoice if you weren’t sure your name was written in heaven?  True joy flows from the assurance that we are saved and on our way to heaven.  The Apostle Paul mentioned a number of his co-workers in the ministry whose names were in the book of life (see Phil 4.3).  He knew that their names were written there.  Yet, some people deny this.  They claim it is presumptuous to say that you can know for sure that you’re going to heaven.  They would be right if you thought you were going to heaven based on your own good works and godliness; but if you are trusting in Christ alone for salvation it is not presumption, it is faith.  It is taking God at his word and believing that you are saved because you have met the conditions of salvation.

Second, only the Lord can write your name in the book of life.  When it talks about a person’s name being written in the book of life, it is clearly implied that God is the one who writes your name in that book.  We cannot place our names there ourselves nor can anyone else write our names in the book of life.  You might be a member of a church and have your name written in a roll book at your church, but that’s not the same as having your name written in the Lamb’s book of life.  It’s one thing to be a church member; it’s another thing to be saved.  Now the two should go together.  But it’s possible for a person to attend church and even be active in church and not be truly saved.  There is such a thing as a false conversion and a false Christian.  Only God can write our name in the book of life, and those written in that book are genuinely saved.  They have repented of their sins and placed their faith in Jesus Christ alone for salvation.

Third, the knowledge that our names are written in the book of life should lead to never-ending joy and praise.  As I mentioned earlier, Jesus told his followers to rejoice because their names were written in heaven.  What joy it is to know that when you lie down to sleep you don’t have to be afraid that you might die before you wake.  People who aren’t ready to die or who lack the assurance of salvation don’t have the joy and peace that God wants to have.  We can know that we are saved and we can live a life of joy because of this knowledge.  An old Church of God hymn says it well, “My name is in the book of life, O bless the name of Jesus!  I rise above all doubt and strife and read my title clear.”  Do you know if your name is in the Lamb’s book of life?  If you have doubts, don’t live with those doubts any longer.  Repent of any known sin and place your faith in Jesus Christ alone for salvation.  He will then say to your heart, “Go in peace.”  Go in the peace that you are right with God and that your name is written in heaven. 

                                 Pastor Mark