The Heavenly Census Register!!!

THE HEAVENLY CENSUS REGISTER!!!

Now there may not be a Country in the World today which doesn’t take a Census of it’s population. For instance the Government exercise towards the population count in US and in Canada is due in 2020 and 2021 respectively. The data thus obtained would eventually be used by the US and Canadian Governments'(and likewise by other Countries which take periodical Census) to facilitate better governance of their citizens. Oh yes, are not the Census-taking instances

a) for God-approved reasons (Numbers 1:2-7/3:11-43/4:21-49/26:2) and

b) even out of sheer pride without adhering to the Law (Exodus 30:12,14) which resulted in Divine comeuppance coming the way of the Nation of Israel (2 Sam 24/1 Chro 21)

also mentioned in the Bible!!!

It also follows that the statistics obtained after taking a Census was invariably written down and preserved in a register during the Biblical times just as it is done in this cyber age… in a Super Computer!!!

Be that as it may, it’s also time to reflect on the importance of yet another ethereal Citizenship Register…and that is the Lamb’s Book of Life!!! In this message bearing 3 sub-headings, Yours Truly toeing His Master’s line of gleaning spiritual lessons from contemporary events (as Census is about to be taken in US and Canada-Luke 13:1-3) intends to bring different dimensions of this subject (Book of Life) to the fore…using alliteration beginning with what else…an alphabet R…doesn’t the word “Register” also begin with an alphabet “R” (sic)…

Rating…

However, the important thing is not that demons obey you, but that your names are registered as citizens of heaven- Luke 10:20

Our Lord unequivocally brings out the paramount importance of having our names recorded in Heaven’s Book of Life putting its significance thereof over and above even great public Ministry involving miracles’.

Opps…undertaking Christian Ministries which on the surface value appear great may not take one to Heaven as evidenced in the following Scripture portion...

Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness- Matt 7:21-23

But on the other hand having our names not only recorded in Lamb’s Book of Life and doing our part in ensuring they remain therein is guaranteed to land us safely in Heaven (Rev 3:5/20:15).

Our names are written down in that Ethereal Book…in this New Dispensation of Grace…the moment we repent of our sins and appropriate Christ’s atoning work on the Cross in our lives (Romans 4:13-25/ Rom 5:1-2/ Rom 10:8-10) …and the same would be retained if we on our part faithfully keep obeying Him in all areas’ of our life.

Now who are they whom the omniscient Jesus (Pro 15:11, Heb 4:13) does not know? His words of condemnation (in the context of failing to obey) to the accursed “I do not know you” (Matt 7:23) seem paradoxical considering His omniscience. St. Augustine the well-known Christian Saint of the 5th Century observes that these words actually mean that these men -purportedly “Servants of Christ” in public perception- never knew Him properly in the first place. In other words they never fully understood Christ and His priorities. After becoming Christians…with due passage of time…they may have made a good start in Ministry also with a measure of anointing but somewhere down the line, they may have got carried away by the lust for “fame and riches”…a la Demas (2 Tim 4:10) or his O.T. counterpart Balaam (Jude 1:11). Anointing in them which is irrevocable (Rom 11:29) may have served the purpose of “blessing the people” (people are always precious unto the Lord) amongst whom these men ministered but their hearts far-removed from the Lord’s priorities in the matters of total obedience were never a source of joy to their Master (1 John 2:4). The Lord who can blot out names from the Book of life (Exo 32:33) had deleted their names on account of their persistent disobedience despite being given much (read responsible Leadership privileges- Luke 12:45-48) and all of Scriptural warnings.

While the disobedient lot are said to be those “who do not know the Lord” look at what the Scripture has to say (in stark contrast…employing the same word “know”) about the faithful Servants’ of His for whom total obedience to the Master (synonymous with loving the Lord- 2 John 1:6) is more important than anything else…

And by this we know that we have come to know him, if we keep his commandments… 1 John 2:3