The main street of the City was pure gold, translucent as glass. But there was no sign of a Temple, for the Lord God—the Sovereign-Strong—and the Lamb are the Temple. The City doesn’t need sun or moon for light. God’s Glory is its light, the Lamb its lamp! The nations will walk in its light and earth’s kings bring in their splendor. Its gates will never be shut by day, and there won’t be any night. They’ll bring the glory and honor of the nations into the City. Nothing dirty or defiled will get into the City, and no one who defiles or deceives. Only those whose names are written in the Lamb’s Book of Life will get in.” (Revelation 21:21-27 The Message Bible)
I’m always moving things around at home, seeking to enhance the décor in the house. Or maybe I just need to be doing something. Well, nevertheless, whatever the reason, Monday, I was looking for an orange and gray book among the various books in the house. On a shelf between the dining room and the kitchen I found just that which I was had been seeking, a perfect book for my design plan because of the color, not because of the content. But as it was timely, and truly meant to be, if was perfect for the month of February, Black History Month. It was entitled “Indiana’s African American Heritage,” It was published by the Indiana Historical Society Press in 2022, and edited by Wilma Gibbs Moore, a fellow alumnus of Crispus Attucks in High School in Indianapolis. It was published in her memory. Seeing her name on the cover caused me to have a moment of rejoicing because I knew her. As I skimmed through the book, I saw other notable people I knew. Their names and pictures caused more moments of rejoicing. I spent more time in the book than I had intended. What started out as a redecorating project turned into a researching history project and it revealed my resounding connection with the past.
Monday passed and I had not finished my simple décor project yet. Tuesday, I decided that I needed one more book for this décor display that would set on top of a trunk that serves no purpose other than to be part of a decoration scheme or perhaps you may even call it a work of art. My aunt Lucille, a renowned artist in the world, would like that very much. Now I needed to find a larger gray book to go under the book that I described in the aforementioned paragraph. My search around the house took me to the lower level of the house, to a family room that is also decorated, but seldom used except when we have houseguests. On the table that holds a rarely used television, I found a well-preserved book entitled “Three Decades of Distinction,” a work focusing on the 30th year anniversary of Purdue University’s Indianapolis Campus. Near the front of the book is a message from the Dean at the time it was published. When I worked at the school between 1976-1979, this individual was a full-time professor. I remembered him well. As with the Black History book, I started skimming through the pages. On page 39, I found a picture of myself, participating in a panel of previous directors of the School’s Minority Engineering Program. To put it in perspective, this was in 2001, years before my hair decided to resign from its position on my head, retired, never to be rehired. It must have been saying, “Enough is enough!” My arms are crossed, similar to how I cross them often, bad body language, right? I’m participating as the panel responded to questions by new minority recruits and their parents. The point: I was in the book! That’s not all! When I turned to page 55, near the end of the book, I found a picture of my oldest son working with two other students in the Minority Engineering Advancement Program on a research project. He is working with two other high school freshmen, and it appears that he is leading the work performed by this youthful team. Three things stood out: (1) His interest in problem solving, figuring out technical challenges. (2) His leadership skill which he is still applying in the secular world and more importantly, the church, and (3) The fact that he was in the book too!
What is the purpose of this lengthy read? There is one, be assured. It is actually a twofold purpose. First, it should make you rejoice if your name is written in the Lamb’s Book of life. Praise God! Second, other than rejoicing, it should move you to reach out and recruit others who have yet to be included in “The Book” too! Take advantage of an opportunity today to seek out and find the lost and explain the gospel truth to them. If they respond and accept Christ, they too can be in “The Book!” Be not just entertained this morning! Be an evangelist. By the way, there are books you do not want your name mentioned or listed. Be blessed!
“And I saw a great white throne and Him who was seated upon it, from whose presence earth and heaven fled away, and no place was found for them [for this heaven and earth are passing away]. And I saw the dead, the great and the small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Then another book was opened, which is the Book of Life; and the dead were judged according to what they had done as written in the books [that is, everything done while on earth]. And the sea gave up the dead who were in it, and death and Hades (the realm of the dead) surrendered the dead who were in them; and they were judged and sentenced, everyone according to their deeds. Then death and Hades [the realm of the dead] were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death, the lake of fire [the eternal separation from God]. And if anyone’s name was not found written in the Book of Life, he was hurled into the lake of fire.” (Revelation 20:11-15 The Amplified Bible)
Committed to the climb,
Mark L. King