Names Written in Heaven

Day 93: Luke 10:13-37

"Nevertheless, do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.” - Luke 10:20 ESV

Oh, the blessings of seeing God move as a result of something we have done! The adrenaline rush is fantastic. The 72 that Jesus had sent out were bursting with joy as they returned from what Jesus empowered them to do. Even Jesus joins in on the celebration by confirming that He saw Satan fall like lightning! Not only that, but Jesus also promises that there will be more to come in their war against their ancient enemy and the powers of darkness.

At this point in our culture, we would expect Jesus to say, "Drinks on me! Go out and celebrate. Soak this in! Enjoy what God has done in and through you on behalf of others." Yet this isn't what Jesus does. Instead, He ratchets them back down from any temptation of self-glorification.

Our future is not bright because of anything we have done. Our future is bright because of where we belong.

When we make an eternal difference in someone's life, we are simply ensuring that their names, too, will be written in heaven. The rejoicing, at that point, will be unending.

"In this deep legitimate joy men and women of all callings, who try to follow the Master, in every age, may share." - Spence-Jones, H. D. M., ed. (1909). St. Luke (Vol. 1, p. 273)