Does our life have a purpose? Are we here for a period of time and that’s it? Gratefully, the answer is yes to the first and no to the second. We are destined to be with God, sharing in his eternal life.

 Jesus sent the disciples out to evangelize and prepare the way for his ministry. They went and did what he told them to do. They witnessed people being set free from bondage and healed. They came back to Jesus, rejoicing. But Jesus focused their joy. Because they were obedient and did what Jesus told them to do, they experienced signs and wonders. But Jesus wanted them to rejoice in what is more important, not the signs and wonders, but “rejoice because your names are written in heaven.”

 Will our names be written in the Book of life when we die? They will if we are obedient to the will and plan of God in our lives. God has created us, redeemed us, sanctified us and missioned us. Ours is to respond in obedience.  Like Paul we need to remember our many good deeds and our bad deeds are nothing but rubbish. Like Paul we need to keep our eyes on the prize.  “I for my part do not consider myself to have taken possession. Just one thing: forgetting what lies behind but straining forward to what lies ahead, I continue my pursuit toward the goal, the prize of God’s upward calling, in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 3:13-14) What is this prize? Eternal life and joy with God with our names written in the Book of life.