Teaching 78 The book of life

Join us on The Filter as we study the book of Nehemiah to see what we can learn from it about the end times. This week we will learn all about the BOOK OF LIFE.
#bookoflife
#nehemiah #nehemiahprayers #oldtestament #oldtestamentstudy
The Bible speaks about books that God is writing in heaven. There is the Book of life where the names of those who put their trust in God are written. There are other books as well where the works of people are written, the good and the bad, these are in some places called the book of remembrance. The Bible clearly states that we will all be judged according to what is written in these books, according to our deeds.
The wicked deeds of Christians will not be recorded because they have been washed clean and erased by the blood of Christ. In the book of Romans Paul says that there is no condemnation for those who are in Christ. God will only remember the good things that have been done but unfortunately, some Christians will have nothing good written about them when they face God on Judgement day. These people will receive eternal life by Grace but receive no further reward. Listen us turn to Pauls teaching once more:
1 Corinthians 3:12-15
12 If anyone builds on this foundation using gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay or straw, 13 their work will be shown for what it is, because the Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each person’s work. 14 If what has been built survives, the builder will receive a reward. 15 If it is burned up, the builder will suffer loss but yet will be saved-even though only as one escaping through the flames.
Paul is clear that God will reward Christians for their faithful work. Eternal life is not the reward that God gives us, the reward he gives is added to the free gift of eternal life. Paul speaks of Christians who will enter eternal life only as one escaping through the flames. These Christians are saved by grace but were not victorious in the way they lived their life on earth, they did not serve God with their gifts, they did not love others.
Today I would like to take a look at what the Bible says about these books. The first thing we must understand is that God cares deeply for us to the point that he even numbers the hairs of our head:
Luke 12:6-7
6 Are not five sparrows sold for two pennies? Yet not one of them is forgotten by God. 7 Indeed, the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.
God will not forget his people, God values us greatly and as we will see, He like us will create memories of his children. Humans like to have photo albums of their children to remember the special events of their life. God will have books of remembrance in order that the deeds of his children are remembered forever.
Listen to what the prophet Malachi has to say:
Malachi 3:13-18
13 “You have spoken arrogantly against me,” says the Lord.
“Yet you ask, ‘What have we said against you?’
14 “You have said, ‘It is futile to serve God. What do we gain by carrying out his requirements and going about like mourners before the Lord Almighty? 15 But now we call the arrogant blessed. Certainly evildoers prosper, and even when they put God to the test, they get away with it.’”
16 Then those who feared the Lord talked with each other, and the Lord listened and heard. A scroll of remembrance was written in his presence concerning those who feared the Lord and honored his name.
17 “On the day when I act,” says the Lord Almighty, “they will be my treasured possession. I will spare them, just as a father has compassion and spares his son who serves him. 18 And you will again see the distinction between the righteous and the wicked, between those who serve God and those who do not.
During the time of Malachi many people were complaining against God saying that there was no benefit in following him. These people saw how evil men prospered and instead of turning to God for comfort and truth complained against him. At the same time, Godly men met together and talked to each other about these things. Malichi says that God was listening to their conversation and what they said and did pleased him so much that it was written down in a scroll of remembrance. This is kind of like a parent taking out his camera and taking a picture of his child when they accomplish something special. God is taking snapshots of his children when they do what is right in his eyes, it pleases him and he records it in order that it may be remembered for eternity.
When God is pleased with his children he will make sure that their actions are remembered, this is part of the honour and glory that we can share in heaven. Listen to the following story:
Matthew 26:6-13
6 While Jesus was in Bethany in the home of Simon the Leper, 7 a woman came to him with an alabaster jar of very expensive perfume, which she poured on his