Many of us are familiar with what the Scriptures call the "Lamb's Book of Life." This book is mentioned throughout the Bible as a record of those who are saved.

The first mention of such a book is by Moses as he interceded for the children of Israel after they made and worshiped the golden calf. "Then Moses returned to the Lord and said, 'Oh, these people have committed a great sin, and have made for themselves a god of gold! Yet now, if You will forgive their sin - but if not, I pray, blot me out of Your book which You have written'" (Ex. 32:31-32). Moses was willing to give up his place in this record if God would forgive the Children of Israel.

David pleaded with God concerning his enemies, "Let them be blotted out of the book of the living, and not be written with the righteous" (Ps. 69:28). Paul spoke of "my fellow workers, whose names are in the Book of Life" (Phil. 4:3) and Jesus told His disciples to "rejoice because your names are written in heaven" (Luke 10:20).

What is the importance of having our name written in the Lamb's Book of Life? It will make the difference between us spending eternity in Heaven or Hell. "And anyone not found written in the Book of Life was cast into the lake of fire... But there shall by no means enter it [Heaven - HR] anything that defiles, or causes an abomination or a lie, but only those who are written in the Lamb's Book of Life" (Rev. 20:15; 21:27).

We may think the Lamb's Book of Life is the only place our names could possibly be written, but an interesting statement is found in Jeremiah 17:13 regarding those who forsake the Lord: "Those who depart from Me shall be written in the earth." What does this mean?

Some see this statement referring to the practice of making temporary writing in the dust or sand. Sometimes children were taught how to write on planks of wood covered with dust or sand. The writing was never intended to be permanent. It would be cleared away almost as quickly as it was written.

With this understanding, Adam Clarke makes the following comment on this verse, "They shall never come to true honor. Their names shall be written in the dust; and the first wind that blows over it shall mar every letter, and render it illegible." As opposed to having their names remembered by God as being saved, the names of these individuals will be forgotten, blown away like dust in the wind.

Another possibility is that in this passage the word for "earth" represents the underworld, meaning those who turn away from the Lord will be marked for death. This would certainly fit the context of the book of Jeremiah, as Judah and Jerusalem were destined to be destroyed by Babylon. It would also fit the spiritual significance of one's name not being found in the Book of Life. Such a person will be cast into the lake of fire, which is called the "second death" (Rev. 20:14-15).

Both interpretations bring about the same eternal consequence: such an individual will be lost eternally.

All names are written somewhere. The names of those who are saved are written in heaven. The names of those who are lost are written upon the earth. The important question is: "Where is your name written?"