The online social network called “Facebook” seems to be the rave in today’s world. I assume it is called “Facebook” because everyone has a profile picture and a small “book” of information that others can read about them.
Photos can be posted and people can express what is on their mind any day of the week. People usually share on “Facebook” only what they WANT others to know or see. Unfortunately, many share things that others really DO NOT want to know or see, such as inappropriate pictures or problems that should be kept private.
The thing we need to keep in mind is that God has a profile picture and a book of information about us. This Book, the Lamb’s Book of Life (Rev. 20, 21), contains our every thought, word, and action. Those whose names are not written in this Book will not reap the benefits of heaven (Rev. 21:27).
Thus, it should behoove each of us to determine how we, as Christians, must continue to conduct ourselves here on this earth in order to keep our names recorded there.
It is vitally important that we face God’s Book of Life knowing we have followed God’s Book of Instruction. Only when the Word is “implanted” into our minds is it able to save our souls. Only when we are “doers” of the Word is it able to save our souls (James 1:21).
God’s Book of Instruction requires that we be “holy.” Many want to be Christians, but fail to understand the holiness that sets us apart from the world. Hebrews 12:14 says, “Pursue peace with all men, and holiness, without which no one will see the Lord.” Notice the word “pursue.” This means, “to inflict persistent attention on.” One may read in the newspaper, “The policeman pursued the criminal.” Someone may be described as pursuing a career in the medical field, or another career choice. Thus, these require effort and determination. We must put this same energy and diligence into our spiritual lives if we are to “see the Lord.”
In Colossians chapter 3 there are numerous items of conduct that we, as those who have been raised with Christ, are to “put to death” or “put off.” In verse 12 of this chapter we read of items of conduct we are to “put on” in order to be holy.
One who is holy is spiritually pure. They are dedicated to the cause of Christ. They are set apart for sacred usage. Christ says in Matthew 5:8 that those who are pure in heart will see God. Who are the pure in heart? Those who serve God sincerely for the right reasons.
We can learn a lesson about purity from one of God’s animal creations. In the forests of northern Europe and Asia lives a little animal called the ermine, known for his snow white fur in winter. He instinctively protects his white coat against anything that would soil it. Fur hunters take advantage of this unusual trait of the ermine. They don’t set a snare to catch him, but instead they find his home, which is usually a cleft in a rock or a hollow in an old tree. They smear it with grime. Then the hunters set their dogs loose to find and chase the ermine. The frightened animal flees toward home but doesn’t enter because of the filth. Rather than soil his white coat, he is trapped by the dogs and captured while preserving his purity. For the ermine, purity is more precious than life. What about us? Are we willing to remain pure and holy at any cost?
On the Day of Judgment when we face God’s Book of Life we will be stripped of all pretense. Every secret thing will be brought to light (Ecc. 12:14). We will be standing before God on our own and will face Him as He reviews our record. Will we stand before Him on that day with great fear, or with absolute confidence?
–Becky Honeycutt