This is the first in a series of excerpts from The Book of Life: What the Bible Says about God’s Registry of the Redeemed from High Street Press and available at Amazon.

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The Bible mentions dozens of books. For example, there’s the book of the law, a collection of commands and decrees from God, given through Moses to the children of Israel (Deut. 30:10; cf. Deut. 31:24). There’s the Book of the LORD’s Wars (Num. 21:14), the chronicles of David (1 Chron. 27:24), and an angel’s book (Rev. 10:2). The record book of King Ahasuerus indirectly helps save the Israelites in Persia (Esth. 2:23; 6:1). A book of remembrance is penned in the days of Malachi (Mal. 3:16). And a seven-sealed scroll is opened in the hands of Jesus, revealing future judgments (Rev. 5:1ff.).

But perhaps the most fascinating book revealed in Scripture is the one that may, or may not, feature your name: the book of life. 

Scripture tells us the book of life is God’s book. Under his sovereign authorship, names are written in the book, and many are subsequently erased from it. In some biblical references, the book of life simply appears to be a record of the living, while in other passages, it’s the roll of God’s faithful covenant people. 

But the Bible’s most dramatic revelation is that the book of life discloses the everlasting destiny of all people. It is, John writes, the Lamb’s book of life (Rev. 21:27), and those whose names are written there are shielded from the lake of fire and welcomed into New Jerusalem. 

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