Erasers

Erasers are wonderful things. They allow us to correct mistakes or revisit a thought that made all the sense in the world when we wrote it, but now you wonder, “What was I thinking?” Revelation 3:5 is one of the Bible’s many “if-then” statements, and it mentions an eraser we want nothing to do with.

Jesus had just finished telling John about Sardis, a dead church filled with unredeemed and unregenerate people, who needed to wake up and repent or he would come like a thief (in judgment). On the other hand, even though most in the church were not true believers in Him, He said that there were a few [if] who had not soiled their garments and [then] would walk with Him in white because they are worthy and He would not erase their name from His book of life.

Here’s the lesson for us.

Even though we may be attending a dead church for whatever reason, God knows those who are His. Once your name is in the book from before the foundation of the world (Rev. 13:8), it will never be erased. And the reason you want to make sure your name is there is explained in Rev. 20:15 and Rev. 21:27. Look it up, that’s your homework for today.

There are some, maybe many, reading this post, who aren’t’ sure their name is in Jesus’ book. You might be one who “walked an aisle” at a Christian Camp or responded to an invitation from the preacher at the end of a sermon to “go forward” and accept Jesus. But since then, you haven’t seen any change in your behavior, your thoughts, or your friendships. If that’s true, you may have been a target of Satan’s campaign to keep new believers from growing by telling them lies like, “God couldn’t possibly love somebody like you, with your background.”

But God wants you to be sure

of your relationship with Him. The same John who talked to Jesus about the seven churches, is the John who wrote three short letters to the church. Listen to some of his thoughts, “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from ALL unrighteousness.” (1 Jn. 1:9) And the kicker, “These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, SO THAT you may KNOW that you have eternal life.” (1 Jn. 5:13)

A relationship to God is not like going to a new job where the HR guy says, “Hi, here’s your workstation. Now get busy.” He has provided a user’s manual called the Bible, that gives us everything we need pertaining to life and godliness (2 Peter 1:3). And there are many churches unlike Sardis who have godly leaders and teachers and love to share what they’ve learned about God with anybody who listens.

If this is you,

there’s a section, Steps To Salvation, that explains either what you’ve already done or what you’d like to do be didn’t know how. God bless you and thanks for reading.