The Book of Life
“He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment;
and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will
confess his name before my Father, and before his angels.”
Revelation
3:5
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If we would be overcomers, we must search our hearts to be sure
that we are not cherishing anything that is offensive to God. If we are,
we cannot wear the white raiment that is here promised. If we would
stand before God in the white linen, which is the righteousness of the
saints, we must now do the work of overcoming.
Christ says of the overcomer, “I will not blot out his name out
of the book of life.” The names of all those who have once given
themselves to God are written in the book of life, and their characters
are now passing in review before him. Angels of God are weighing
moral worth. They are watching the development of character in those
now living, to see if their names can be retained in the book of life. A
probation is granted us in which to wash our robes of character and
make them white in the blood of the Lamb. Who is doing this work?
Who is separating from himself sin and selfishness? “Ye are dead,”
says the apostle Paul of the true followers of Christ, “and your life is
hid with Christ in God.” When we are alive to God, we are dead to
self. May God help us to die to self. Whose names will not be blotted
out of the book of life? Only the names of those who have loved God
with all the powers of their being, and their neighbors as themselves.
There is a great work to be done for many of us. Our minds and
characters must become as the mind and character of Christ. Selfish-
ness is inwrought in our very being. It has come to us as an inheritance,
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and has been cherished by many as a precious treasure. No special
work for God can be accomplished until self and selfishness are over-
come. To many everything connected with themselves is of great
importance. Self is a center, around which everything seems to re-
volve. Were Christ on the earth now, he would say to such, “Launch
out into the deep.” Be not so self-caring. There are thousands whose
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