REJOICE: Your Name is Written in Heaven!

Saturday morning, January 26, 2008

This is what Jesus said to those He sent out as frontrunners (His disciples plus the “seventy others”), in response to their enthusiasm: “I was watching Satan fall from heaven like lightening. Behold, I have given you authority to tread upon serpents and scorpions, and over all power of the enemy, and nothing shall injure you. Nevertheless do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rejoice that your names are recorded in heaven” (Luke 10:18a-20). Hmmm, it is my guess that when one has this kind of authority, it is terribly difficult to stay focused on what is really important, which is probably why He has not given most, if any, of us this kind of authority. Well, now that I think about it, maybe He did give us this kind of authority but we let it go to our heads, even before we used it, and, consequently, we lost it. In either case, I have NEVER seen this kind of authority used in ANY believer’s life, not yet anyway; however, I am continuing to wait and to watch!

As you can tell, these “frontrunners” (as I call them) were very excited and enthusiastic about this new-found authority (I, certainly, do not blame them!); listen to what they said to Jesus: “And the seventy returned with joy, saying, ’Lord, even the demons are subject to us in Your name’” (vs. 17). Interestingly, however, Jesus, Himself, was also excited—very excited; take a look at His response: “At that very time He rejoiced greatly in the Holy Spirit. . .” (vs. 21a; I would love to have witnessed this!].

Now listen to the words He used to express His enthusiasm: “I praise Thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that Thou didst hide these things from the wise and intelligent and didst reveal them to babes. Yes, Father, for thus it was well-pleasing in Thy sight. All things have been handed over to Me by My Father, and no one knows who the Son is except the Father, and who the Father is, except the Son, and anyone to whom the Son wills to reveal Him” (vss. 21-22). And turning to His disciples, He said privately, “Blessed are the eyes which see the things you see” (vs. 23). The first part being enthusiastic praise (probably even dancing!) for any and everyone to see and to hear; the last part being a private, whispered comment to the twelve; albeit, an powerfully, explosive word of encouragement.

Again, with this kind of authority and with these kinds of words of encouragement, it would probably be very difficult to stay focused on what is really important, thus His—REJOICE, NOT IN THESE THINGS, BUT IN THE FACT THAT YOUR NAMES ARE WRITTEN IN HEAVEN!

You know, when all is said and done, only one thing really matters and that one thing is this: Jesus chose to reveal Himself to us and, thus, to write our names in Heaven, in the Lamb’s Book of Life. It is one thing to be chosen to receive such incredible authority, and it is another to be chosen to have eyes to see what most never see, but it is quite another to have been chosen to have your name written in the Lamb’s Book of Life!

So, I would say this: do not rejoice that you have been given authority over the spirits, or that you can see what others miss; instead, rejoice in the fact that your name, that’s right—YOUR NAME—has been written in Heaven!

Wow!