Read: John 1:10-12; Revelation 20:11-15
Surely, I would be able to provide the necessary documentation. That is what I hoped as I called the agency that I thought would be able to pull up the information I needed.
I gave the very pleasant lady who answered the phone my name. While on hold, I waited. Her voice came back, and she still sounded cheerful; however, the message she relayed to me wasn't encouraging. There was no record of my ever having been in the system. She asked me to verify the spelling of my name. Still nothing that indicated that I had used their services. I offered a name of someone connected with them and even provided my Social Security Number. Still, her search came up empty. As far as their records were concerned, I didn't exist. I wondered how that happened? To make matters even stranger, this was the second agency that couldn't find me.
Thankfully, I was able to go a different route, and my inability to find my information didn't cause any additional problems. Still, the thought of effectively having been "erased" from the memory of those two places caused me to think about some much more significant records. The ones kept by God. How thankful I am that He never loses the files He keeps concerning each of us, nor does He keep any file that He has promised to delete. All the information that He has promised to retain, He keeps, and the information He has promised to obliterate from our records, He will never hold against us. His filing system is flawless.
Let's look first at the files He will never open up and use against us if we belong to Him:
The record of our sins. I love the pictures the Savior gives us concerning the fact that He will never remember our sins against us.
1. They are put as far away as the east is from the west, Psalm 103:12.
2. They are forgiven according to God's grace, Ephesians 1:7.
3. They are wiped out because of God's faithfulness. He will never remember them against us, Isaiah 43:25.
4. They are trampled underfoot and thrown into the depths of the sea because of God's unfailing love, Micah 7:18-19.
This amazing wiping of our records clean is available to all who will call on Him, Psalm 86:5. However, this forgiveness is only available because of what Jesus did on the cross, Matthew 26:28. Because of His having shed His blood on our behalf, we can stand before Him having been cleansed from every trace of sin, 1 John 1:7. We are free of condemnation, Romans 8:1. We can exchange our record of sin for His record of righteousness, 2 Corinthians 5:21.
Now let's look at the files the Lord meticulously keeps for His children.
1. He takes note of every act done as we faithfully serve one another, Hebrews 6:10. Not only the preacher and the teacher. Yes, the Lord sees their faithfulness, but it doesn't stop there. So many brothers and sisters do myriads of sometimes not observed or lauded tasks. Everything from helping someone to picking up after others after the service. There is no task done to honor and out of love for Jesus that will ever not be noted by the One whose records are flawless. Isn't it a wonderful thought that that sin-the one that we wish we had never committed-will never be remembered by God. Yet, the smallest action performed when no one saw is pleasing and seen by the Master.
2. He takes note of every tear we have cried, Psalm 56:8. One of my friends who is now with Jesus went through a period of time when she was unable to cry tears. She would tell me that she wished she could because her heart was so sad. Many tears for many reasons do not fall from our eyes. Yet, God Who knows the heart of each person, 1 Samuel 16:7, knows even the pain the doesn't flow out in tears. He sees even what remains inside that often, others don't see. Of course, it is always a special blessing when people understand our hurts. However, how precious it is to have a God Who sees and understands all that each of us experiences and feels. Someday, He will dry our tears, Revelation 21:4, and I don't know how that all will play out, but His record of our tears will be part of the outpouring of the Savior's love on that day.
3. He takes note of those Who reverence Him, Malachi 3:16. He records the words of love we speak to one another about Him. He heard the time we spoke of His faithfulness even through our tears. He recorded the time we spoke lovingly of His wondrous creativity and how His beauty is all around us.
4. His records are perfect as to those who have put their trust in Him for salvation. In Revelation 20:11-15, we read the account of the White Throne Judgment. The people there are not in the Book of Life. For them, there is no record of their having trusted in Jesus' finished work on their behalf, John 19:30; John 1:11-12. What records has God kept on those who are there? There is only the records of each of their sins, and that is a terrible thing. Yet, if anyone might read this, it isn't too late.
Even today, please turn away from sin and trying to live this life without Jesus. Exchange your record of sin for God's righteousness. Then you will be able to rejoice because you will know that your name is in the Book of Life, Luke 10:20.
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