Preached at Marcella Falls, TN

Before we get started this afternoon, I would like to thank all of you brethren, Dan, and Steph. We truly appreciate your thoughtfulness and your love for the truth. You have made my job of preaching very rewarding. Any time a preacher can preach to those who are truly hearing and listening, it is a blessing from God. And remember, when you come to East Tennessee, we would love to see you! Hopefully during this weekend we have accomplished some good and provided some spiritual nourishment to our hearts as Christians.

Names are important in life. They give us our identity. They give us rights and privileges such as voting, social security, a driver’s license, being on a waiting list, etc. For the world, our names connect what we are and who we are with the things we have done. Our names carry our reputation and our example. If we develop a bad reputation or we have not lived in a way that we want others to know about, many will want to change their name so they can get a fresh start. Many times, those same people end up marring their new name and end up where they started; setting a bad example and carrying a bad reputation. There are exceptions to this. After Saul’s conversion he was referred to as Paul. It took him a long time to shed the image of how people thought of him when he was known as Saul. Barnabus developed a nickname, "Son of Encouragement". Sometimes our nicknames tell a lot about our character. When I lived in NY it seemed that everyone had to have a nickname. When I was in High School I was nicknamed “Catman” because of the catlike reflexes my friends thought I displayed when playing basketball. By the way, it seems I have lost many of those reflexes. On Daniel’s basketball team his teammates referred to him as "DWade", since his first name Daniel starts with a D, his last name is Wade, he is a very good player, and there is a famous NBA player, Dwayne Wade, who has the nickname "DWade". Sometimes we get a nickname for something silly. I went to High School with a boy named Peter Moss. It was too easy to call him Pete Moss, so we called him "Little Pettee Moss". Beth's grandfather, from Laurenceburg, TN was named Randolph Robertson Pollock and everyone called him "Railroad Pollock" because of the initials of his name. And then sometimes we do something and acquire a nickname that we would rather not have, but it tends to stick with us longer than we would like. Some refer to the apostle Thomas as "Doubting Thomas" for example. 

With all this we see the importance of having a name that belongs to us. When we write our name it means something; whether it is endorsing a check, signing a contract, signing a letter, or associating it with a spouse. I have always been proud that when Beth and I got married, she took my name. What an honor for a husband to have a wife that loves him so much and wants to form such a tight bond of unity, that she takes his name. We are now in our 22^nd year of marriage!

Sometimes it is also important to have our name on a list. Many times when I go to a high security government installation, I have to first prove who I am and then I need to have my name written on a pre-approved list. If I am not on that list, I cannot enter the facility.

When God writes our name, it has everlasting consequences. We should want God to put us on His list. If He doesn’t, we will not be able to enter Heaven and live eternally. We will instead be kept out of Heaven and lost eternally. Let's look at some facts from the Bible.

1. God wants to write our name in the Book of Life and does not want to blot it out (2 Peter 3:9, Revelation 3:5).

2. Names not written in the Book of Life are enemies of God (Psalms 69:28, Revelation 13:8, 17:8).

3. God keeps accurate records of our name and what is connected to that name (Revelation 20:11-15). If our names are not written in the Book of Life we will be cast into everlasting torment (Matthew 25:46).

4. If our names are written in the Book of Life God will deliver and save us eternally (Daniel 12:1, Isaiah 4:3, Revelation 21:27).

5. We see references to people who had their names written in God’s wonderful book (Luke 10:17-20, Philippians 4:2-3). We also know that only those with pure hearts will see God (Matthew 5:8)!

6. How do we get our name on the list in God's book? (Matthew 7:21-24, James 1:21-25, 2 Peter 1:5-11, 1 John 5:1-5). One must believe His Word and obey it.

It is true that God is the one who writes our name in the book, but who is really responsible for it getting there or being taken out? Notice Exodus 32:30-33. This morning I want you all to think seriously about something. Is Your Name Written There? Please read the words of this beautiful song on page 418 of our song book. [CHECK TO MAKE SURE IN THEIR BOOK!]

If you know your name is not written in God’s Book of Life, you can take care of that problem right now! If your name is not written there because you have never become a Christian, we can help you. If you believe Jesus and are willing to confess that He is the Son of God, you realize that you have sinned and feel sorry for those sins, are willing to turn away from those sins and submit your life to Jesus, and are willing to be immersed in the waters of baptism (show baptistery and point out there is nothing at all to fear), your name will be written in that very special book (Acts 2:47). Do not wait any longer, because if Jesus comes back on Judgement Day, you need to make sure you are on His list of those going to Heaven!

Maybe you are a Christian, and have been living a life that has resulted in God blotting your name out of His Book of Life. Why not do what John says to do in 1 John 1:9? Confess and repent [this is a military term that means: about face, forward, march!] of those sins, and then the blood Jesus will wash them all away.

We are now going to sing a song called “Is My Name Written There?” Ask yourself that question as we sing. If you realize you need help because you are either a Christian in sin or are not a Christian, we want you to come forward so we can fix that problem right now! Then your name can be written in the book of Life and you can look forward to being in Heaven with God forevermore. If we can help you, please come forward while we stand and sing.