Do not pray for easy lives. Pray to be stronger. Do not pray for tasks equal to your power. Pray for power equal to the tasks.

Before we get explore today’s reading, I do believe a bit of background to the book of Revelations is called for. Simplistically, it is John’s account of a vision told to him by Jesus through a mediating angel. Therefore it is very important to note that this prophecy is from Jesus Himself and not the angel. We also get John reinforcing this by thinking that the angel was Jesus Himself, at which point the angel certainly corrects the situation.

Another important point about this book is the rather obscure text found in verse 10: “Do not seal up the words of the prophecy because the time is near”. This is in stark contrast to the Daniel vision depicted in Dan 12 verse 4: “But you, Daniel, close up and seal the words of the scroll until the time of the end”. What Jesus is saying here to John, as opposed to what Jesus told Daniel (Daniel 10 and Revelations 1 – the vision of a Man has similar descriptions) is that whilst the Daniel prophecy was some way off at that time, the vision that Jesus gave John was soon to be fulfilled – and dare I say, these are the times that we are living in right now!

So, in light of this, underpinning today’s reading is the fact that we are in the end of ages and that Final Judgement is potentially just around the corner! Therefore I think it would be prudent to investigate the topic of Final Judgement and how it may impact us – and what we can do about it! As we progress here, I would ask you to firmly hold onto the following verse – Matthew 5 v 48: “Be perfect therefore as your heavenly Father is perfect”. Here we go then…

From verse 12 our reward or judgement will be based the work we have done; according to what we have done. This methodology is also re-enforced by the teaching of Jesus Himself in Matt 16 v 27: “then He will reward each person according to what he has done”; by what Paul states in Rom 2 v 6: “God will give to each person according to what he has done”; and there are many more examples to cite. This principle, that we will be judged on our works is a fundamental truth and is further emphasized in Psalm 62 v 10; Jeremiah 17 v 10 and Revelations 20 v 12 – 13; where very importantly certain “Books” are mentioned. Records are being kept of our every word, thought and deed – what we are doing that we shouldn’t and what we should be doing but not. All this will be revealed to us and all on Final Judgement.

To put this into perspective a little exercise if I may. I would like you right now to pair up with the person on the right or left and gaze at each other. Now think about some of the words, deeds and thoughts that you have done in your life and at the same time, imagine that the person you are looking at suddenly has access to those very words, thoughts and deeds that you have ever done, and potentially are going to do. (Pause). Frightening isn’t it. In fact I would be extremely embarrassed if the person I was looking at knew everything about me and probably run out of the building – so I am surprised to see so many still here! Bottom line though, brothers and sisters, is that this is exactly what is going to happen on Final Judgement – all will be revealed.

But hope is at hand, all is not lost! The first part of the solution is that you can all stop looking at each other now before it gets too uncomfortable, secondly lets recall the verse I told you to hang onto – “Be perfect therefore as your heavenly Father is perfect”. So the solution is quite simple – all we have to do is be perfect for every millisecond of our lives and this Final Judgement thing will be a breeze – no sweat at all! Hand on heart though, who of us can really say that this is the case for them?

Jesus calls Himself the “Alpha and Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End” and yet we know that it is God who is all these things and has sovereignty over all human history. So the benchmark set by God is also applicable to what Jesus requires as well. However, this does not escape the fact that reward or judgement will be based on what we have done, despite our efforts to measure up to the benchmark set. Here’s a reality check as well – in verse 11 of the reading we see that our “condition”, so to speak, will remain so during the Final Judgement – and will be exposed accordingly.

What hope is there then for us? There is an overriding factor here and it is powerfully mentioned in verse 14 “Blessed are those who wash their robes that they may have the right to the tree of life and may go through the gates into the city”. This blessing is the last of seven beatitudes mentioned in the book of Revelations and these are in conjunction with the records kept of our lives. But what does being blessed by God actually mean? That we will be forever happy and joyful? No – being blessed by God means that God Himself places us in a favourable place or position in His own eyes. It is not of our doing, but God alone places us there.

Therefore we will be blessed by God – and this blessing that we will have results in a favourable eternal relationship with God – should we be “washed” through believing in Jesus, repentance and trusting in Him alone for our salvation. In this way the barrier between us and God, our sins, are cast away and we become righteous in the eyes of God. This is further supported again in Revelations 20 v 12-13 which mentions another book, the Book of Life, which is read in conjunction with the Records of our Life, and in this way – being washed, being blessed by God – is how we get our names in this Book of Life. It is only those who have been cleansed who get their names in this book. And it only those who have their names in the Book of Life that are blessed with the right of going to heaven only by what Jesus has done for us.

The Records of our Life will also record those works of faith as these inevitably are a measure of our belief, our faith in Christ, our repentance. It is through being cleansed, being saved so to speak, that we will have a desire to transform our lives to become more Christ-like with the aid of the Holy Spirit. We have a desire to increase our talents, utilise whatever spiritual gifts that God bestows on us, to move away from those things that we know we shouldn’t be doing and do the things we should, and perform works of faith. How can we perform works of faith whilst not being cleansed – what is our motive: to meet the impossible benchmark?

It is through all of these factors that I have mentioned that we will enter the kingdom of Heaven. Therefore Final Judgement based on our works in not a contradiction but rather a manifestation of our faith, our salvation by what Jesus has done for us – which is measurable! The big question is – Is your name in the Book of Life? The most amazing thing is that it can be and it’s absolutely free!

Verse 15 clearly indicates what God thinks of those whose names do not appear in the Book of Life. The word “dog” is mentioned and when we correlate this to Deuteronomy 23 v 17 - 18 “No Israelite man or woman is to become a shrine prostitute. You must not bring the earnings of a female or male prostitute (Hebrew of a dog) into the house of the Lord your God to pay any vow, because the Lord your God detests them”, we get the picture – God abhors impurity, hence the absolute perfection benchmark that is required. The only way to get “inside” rather than staying “outside” with the “dogs” is to have your name in the Book of Life! Bottom line – we can do all the things we can, of trying to reach perfection in the Book of Records, but without our name in the Book of Life it is all in vain.

The reading ends with the affirmation of God’s promise to David – that he would have an everlasting dynasty through the Messiah, Jesus – and that Jesus Himself is the new day dawning as depicted by the Morning Star – and this is now, not in the future anymore.

Hopefully we are starting to make some link to the heading of today’s talk “Giving Envisioned” or more simply put “for what we are about to receive”. I just hope that we are truly thankful and not otherwise. To be sure – we will receive what we deserve! We have talked about living in the end of ages, of judgement, benchmark of perfection, being inside or outside, having a relationship with God or being a “dog”, the books of records and life – all pivoting on how we receive Jesus and what we do with our lives as a measure of our faith and belief in Christ. It’s what we do today that will have eternal consequences.

Point Number 1: Is your name in the Book of Life? If not, why not? Is it because you may believe that Christianity is a “Cult”, that it is based on stuff 2000 years old, that it is out of touch with the present day, that it is just part of a multiple faith society, that it can’t be the only way because that would signify arrogance and exclusivity, or that we have no objections but just can’t make that final commitment? Or may I be direct and ask have you personally explored the Christian Faith or are your conclusions based on assumptions which may not have had any exposure to the fundamentals of Christianity? A challenge then – why not spend some time and investigate Jesus and all He claims to be, as well as what Christianity is all about – in other words make an educated decision about Christianity rather than decisions based on assumptions. This can be done one to one or with a group; and also enable you to ask your own questions and put your points of view across in a non-threatening environment. We would be willing to help you on this journey. Bottom Line – I can’t put your name down in the Book of Life – it is purely up to you and your relationship with God. Jesus writes your name down. I repeat, getting your name there is absolutely free – a gift from God, and all you have to do is go and claim it.

Point Number 2: For those who think that their names are in the Book of Life, and only you yourself can answer that question, what’s the Book of Record’s looking like? What is the measure of our response to Christ and what He has done for us? Jesus calls us many times to be childlike in our relationship with Him – to trust Him as a father and to obey Him as a response for the wonderful gift that He has given us – a place in Heaven absolutely free. Jesus wants the Law to be within us – not a burden on our backs – that we desire to do what He wants us to do. Keep it simple.

It’s like a marathon. At the start of the race we are full of energy and zest for the Lord, but can be easily distracted. In the middle of the race we get into a rhythm that can be sustained for a time, and at the end of the race we can be very tired and weary. Every now and then we do need to stop at the watering holes and get the energy we need – from the Holy Spirit. We can also get help from those running with us – encouragement, assistance in our time of need – the Church family is important. If I take the Comrades Marathon in South Africa as an example – from Petermaritzburg to Durban, 88 km in length close to the Valley of a Thousand Hills – so, there are also going to be times when the journey is flat, downhill or uphill – and hence the need for more encouragement and assistance from those around us! It also depends on our training schedule – of how “fit” we are as Christians. This includes the study of the Word, our Prayer life, our Fellowship, our Worship and our Service.

So, the Book of Records. Have we buried our God given talents and just waiting for the Master to arrive or are we using them to develop them in accordance with how God wants us to use them? Are we musically inclined – if so, have we offered our service to the musicians; do we have leadership talents – then maybe we can help out with the Home groups; are we being sacrificial in our tithing, or are we giving within our means; we have many talents within the community and all are needed to glorify God’s Kingdom as well as being material in the expansion of God’s Kingdom as well. We really need to remember that it is God who has given us all these things for our use and stewardship for His good purpose. God wants to use us, which is blessing in itself, otherwise He would not have given us those talents and material things in the first place!

How about our Spiritual Gifts? Do we know what they are? If we don’t have we truly asked God to reveal or give us those gifts which we seek? If we know what they are – are we actually using them for His purposes?

From time to time we need to stop at a watering hole, and take stock of our “fitness” and potentially be very willing to exercise those talents and gifts that God has given us in order to become more “Christ-like” and “fit” so that we can power up those long hills that definitely await us around the next corner, as well as encouraging our brothers and sisters on their journey.

Point Number 3: Up until now we have been quite inwardly focussed. Again this comes done to the Book of Records – what are we like outside of our Christian fellowship? Are we Jekyll and Hyde for our own convenience? Do we submit to the worldly ways that are so in our face or do we remain steadfast in our walk with Christ? Are we shining lights, salt of the earth? Or does it all crumble at around 12H30 on every Sunday afternoon? Or do we reflect the love of Christ to all of those around us, that they see in us a “Christ-like” figure which they desire to know more about. You see if people hate us because of Christ then we are blessed, but if they hate Christ because of us, then we need to repent and change our ways.

All of these questions I am asking are not directed to you alone but to myself as well. Do not believe for one minute that I am standing here expounding and demanding without being humbled and ashamed myself. Well, this is what I am truly feeling anyway – maybe your not- but I can’t answer that.

To be Christ-like we need to be in Christ. We have to have our names in the Book of Life – to trust in Christ, to repent and turn away from the things we have done wrong, to receive Him as our Lord and Saviour and to obey Him as a response to our salvation. We will then desire to perform such works as God commands us knowing full well that He will equip us with all the things we need to carry out His will – the biggest one being the Holy Spirit who remains with us to guide and direct us. We need to develop our talents and gifts whatever they may be and willingly and continually offer them to God for His good purposes. The Book of Records will then measure our response to our salvation – which we will desire and willingly do. The motive is not for us to meet the benchmark of perfection, but just a response of obedience to Him who keeps us from falling. And when we fall, and we will, His Grace is such that we will be forgiven – so that we can start running up the hill again. The prize is out of this world!

In the days of Communism in Eastern Europe, travel between countries was not as easy as it is today. Two Christians wanted to attend a secret gathering of believers in a neighbouring country and at passport control they were asked what purpose was their visit. They replied, “We are going to hear the last will and testament of our Eldest Brother”, and were duly let through. On their return, coincidently they met the same guard, who asked “How did it go?” They replied, “Wonderful, Our Eldest Brother left everything to us!” So let us do all we can in offering up ourselves for our Eldest Brother, in whatever He calls us to do.

Do I hear an Amen on that?

If there are anybody out there this morning who really wishes to discuss these matters, please come and see me or Tim or the prayer team at the end of the service and we would gladly listen – and Jesus is willing to give you the wonderful gift which He so dearly paid for.