Day 63

“The one who overcomes will be clothed the same way, in white garments; and I will not erase his name from the book of life, and I will confess his name before My Father and before His angels. ⁶ The one who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.” Rev 3:5-6 NASB.

In some parts of the ancient Greek world, when a person was about to be executed for a crime, his name was first erased from the roll of citizens. This seems to have been a necessary act before a citizen could be condemned to death. 

It seems clear from this text that Jesus didn’t believe in the popular version of “once saved always saved.” Remaining in the Book of Life is the result of an ongoing process of “overcoming”. Remaining in the Book of Life is based on a continuing relationship with Jesus, not some arbitrary decree on God’s part. While our deeds are never the basis for our salvation, good works are the ongoing evidence that people belong to a saved community (Rev 19:7-8).  

The promise that those who continue to overcome will not be blotted out of the Book of Life, is a warning to any Christian who thinks that mere profession or church attendance will be sufficient to ensure their salvation. If you cannot attach the gospel to hearts, hands, and feet, then it isn’t worth much. 

Christians need to realize that when we take the name of Jesus, we immediately become witnesses for Him. But when we merely go through the motions, when we don’t allow Jesus to change us, we give others the excuse not to allow Jesus to change their lives either. If we take on the Christian faith as a thin veneer over our selfishness, we bear witness to a faith that will not change the world. It is a faith that may seem alive to others but is nevertheless truly dead or about to die. 

The victory of faith comes to those who persevere in overcoming. 

Never be satisfied with merely a veneer of faith. The hope of the gospel must take over the core of our being and transform us into true witnesses for God.