I started this piece, originally, with the whole passage on the judgement of the dead, but I think now, that I want to assume we are all on message with the concept of the final judgement, (it is given for a man to live once and then to face judgement) and take a slightly different tack.
Two Books
1. The Book of Deeds
Although technically books (I wanted to simplify the image) let us assume that are our own lives do not exceed 1 book, and therefore the singular could apply.
I am imagining the opening of the book of Matthew Joseph (me) and it is not necessarily an easy read. Certainly not in the company of my friends and family (and isn't it telling that that occurs to me before I am worried about what the judge will say!).
And this book will contain my every deed, my every word and my every thought and motive.
It is a history book.
Now before we have even got to the bit about God's holiness and his standards about sin, I am already feeling shame about the opening of this book.
Presumably it will contain all of my finest moments too ( I am probably fortunate if it fills a few pages, let alone a whole chapter.) but somehow, even then, the weight of it's words, I have no doubt, will condemn me.
And it is this book that the deeds and words and thoughts of all the dead, all who have ever lived, are recorded.
God has a good memory.
And if your name is written in this book only, than you are in big trouble, even if you are a selfless philanthropist (if such a thing exists).
Big trouble.
Muslims believe that (I am told) that all their deeds will be weighed, both good and evil, and if the balance tips in the favour of good, then they will be permitted to enter paradise.
But we believe even the presence of any undealt with sin, is reason for exclusion.
And the definition of sin is broad, but lets just say, have we loved the Lord our God with All our hearts, souls, strength and mind? And have we loved our neighbour as ourselves. That would be a good litmus test.
And to be weighed in the balance and found wanting is a fearful thing.
2, The Book of Life
"Another book was opened, which is the book of life."
Now, for my own sake, I wish the judge would have started with THIS book. Perhaps all that unnecessary awkwardness could have been avoided.
There is a sense in which the book of life is a list of names for salvation.
In the film , 'Schindlers List' Oscar Schindler, a wealthy German entrepreneur has a turn of conscience when he sees what is happening to the Jewish workers he is exploiting, as the ghettos are liquidated and they are deported to concentration camps.
Knowing the fate of those who would go to the death-camps like Auschvitz, he decides to spend all his money on buying workers from the Nazis. The ones he manages to buy have their names put on a list (hence the title of the film) and these are spared from the horrors of the gas chambers.
This harrowing film, based on real events, has a powerful and lasting effect on most who watch it.
The scene that stands out for me is after the war is over and the Schindler Jews (as they come to be known), melt down some gold from their own fillings, to make him a ring to say thank you. As he is given the ring he is overcome with emotion and drops it from his trembling fingers. And, stooping down to retrieve it, he breaks down into tears as he realizes the value of it, and of the little Nazi pin he wears to ingratiate himself with the German guards. The monetary value of these items could have been used to purchase more names for his list. 'I could have saved more' he laments.
Earlier in the film, when his aide , Itzhak Stern, realises what Oscar is doing he says to him, 'the list....is life'.
I tell you of this film to remind you that this book is such a document. The names in the book are on the Lambs list of life.
And though it is easier to identify with the film, the purchase of Souls with Christ's blood is just as emotive.
But Schindler connects all the more because of his flawed humanity. It is both in his compassion and in his weakness we most sorely feel the rawness of his pain. We identify with him.
But let me tell you, it cost Christ far more. And he saved far more. And his blood is effectual and powerful to save all those who come to him. Not one drop was wasted. Not one more drop was needed.
And his blood purchased the souls of those who would come to him....securing them in the book of life.
Schindler saved from death. But all that he saved died in the end.
Jesus saves us from hell, and all he saves live forever.
But this book of life is not just a list.
I believe it is the book of all true life.
Jesus says, 'I am the way, the truth and the life' (John 14:6)
Jesus says, 'I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die; and whoever lives by believing in me will never die' (John 11:25-26)
And Jesus says, 'I have come that they may have life....life in abundance' (John 10:10)
You see those that live now, even though they live, can still be dead.
But the abundant and true life is found in Jesus.
And this abundant , eternal, life does not start on the first day in heaven.
It starts, rather, in the moment that you place your faith in Jesus and are born again, into new and abundant richness of life, with God himself at the very centre.
the book is a list of all those who are already truly alive.
On the day of Judgement they won't be granted life.
They already have it.
Their life will continue into the next and most abundant degree of glory.
Most unenlightened people think that the book of deeds is the place that you earn the right to have your name put into the book of life. That you justify your place in one by your good actions in the other.
But the truth is that those who have their names in the book of life will really live the life of good deeds. But we don't have to justify our place there.
That has already been done.
We simply have to enter into that eternal abundant life,
This day,
And all days,
Amen.
No comments:
Post a Comment