Another Reason to Rejoice
What more pleasant ways come our way that we can take time to rejoice in. It seems like those are the best times in life. And these times of rejoicing seem to far outnumber the times of sorrow. We know by His Word that as Christians we will have many afflictions, and sometimes rejoicing will be far from our hearts, minds, and spirit. The word rejoice is mentioned 29 times in the gospels, 28 times in Paul's epistles, and 7 times in the general epistles. There are many things to rejoice in and rejoice over as we make our pilgrimage to the Promised Land.
One of the uses of the word and action “rejoice” is mentioned by our Savior in Luke 10:20 today. Jesus sends out 70 of His disciples to the towns where He is going to. Jesus gives them directions; they head out and return after preaching the news that the kingdom of God has come near (One amazing thing the disciples noticed was that even the demons are subject to them). Jesus then makes His point in Luke 10:20, “Nevertheless do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rejoice that your names are recorded in heaven.”
Jesus reminds us that in our days of ministry, though some incredible things will happen, to be sure not to fall prey to a dangerous deceptive sense of spiritual pride in accomplishment. 2Cor.3:5-6 states, “Not that we are adequate in ourselves to consider anything as coming from ourselves, but our adequacy is from God, who also made us adequate as servants of a new covenant, not of the letter but of the Spirit, for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.” C.H. Surgeon comments, “He bids them consider themselves as debtors to divine grace, which reveals unto babes the mysteries of God, for He would not allow their new position as workers to make them forget that they were chosen by God and therefore debtors.”
They did rejoice, the Greek word implies and imparts joy. It is to be in a state of happiness and wellbeing, independent of what is happening when the Source is the Spirit. Despite some of the ministries that we ourselves see amazing results in, we are to rejoice more in having experienced the greatest miracle of all: the salvation of our otherwise previously lost soul.
This rejoicing Jesus is getting at is in the present imperative, simply meaning it is a command, and should continually be within us seeing that our salvation is eternally secure. The recording of our names in heaven is incredible, immutable, and undeniable. In places like Revelation 3:5, and 20:15, these recorded names are referred to as being in the “Book of life.”
The Greek word for “recorded” is eggrapho and used only 3 times in the New Testament. It means it is written down, speaking of a past completed action with ongoing results or effects.
Our salvation brings protection and privilege. There is much to be seen in a person's name. It represents a person’s identity, accomplishments, and relationships. These names we have follow us to our grave markers. But even beyond that, there is a heavenly ledger that is the most important of all. From the hymn “The Roll Is Called Up Yonder”: “When the roll is call up yonder, I'll be there". Lord, help us remember that salvation through God's grace and the assurance that whom He saves, He also keeps, let this bring us a steady, unchangeable, eternal joy.
The great theologian D. Martyn Lloyd Jones - maybe the greatest of the 20th century- in His final days with his caretaker (he was not able to accomplish too much, maybe a little light editing and such), asked Lloyd Jones “that since he was on a bit of a shelf and couldn't do much anymore, what was he able to rejoice in.” Lloyd Jones did not respond about rejoicing in all the sermons he preached, he didn’t respond about rejoicing in the many lessons he taught, he didn’t respond about rejoicing in the many books he wrote. What he did respond to his caretaker that day was this, “I am rejoicing that my name is recorded in heaven.” Wow! What a response was that! Exactly as His Savior and Lord had taught him on His way to finally seeing Him face to face, having been chosen unto eternal life before the foundation of the world. Lloyd Jones rejoiced in the right thing.
Are you rejoicing today in the fact if you are a believer in the Lord Jesus Christ, born again, born from above, born of water and the Spirit, regenerated by the power of the Spirit, justified by faith in Christ Jesus, that your name is recorded in heaven?
Elder Randy Slak