When the Ford Probe came out in 1988,I bought one of the transport when it
first arrived. Five years later it was stolen, and when it came time to settle
with the insurance company, I had all the receipts for service, maintenance, and
accessories added, with pictures, so I was able to negotiate top book plus when
settling the claim. Sadly the car was found on the other side of town a few
days later, but now belonged to the insurance company. So off we went to
replace it, our choices either a Mustang GT, or Camaro Z-28. After looking at
dozens of cars, a theme developed for each car. The Mustangs were all 5 speed
manuals, and mostly owned by men. They had higher miles, some options, well
maintained, and like me, they had complete records. The Camaros by comparison
were mostly automatics, lower miles, not taken care of as well, dirty or low
oil, mostly owned by single women, and had no paperwork. Just one glimpse when
lifting the hood and you could tell the difference, with some needing a bath
also. Which made me wonder, if you have a car for sale, can’t you at least wash
it? But it was the books, the records of Mustang owners that showed pride of
ownership...the Camaros left no doubt either about lack of pride of
ownership.
Now even Santa Claus has a list of all the kids in Boy and Girl Land, and
has to check it twice. Note it is a list and incorporates both good and bad.
Who knows what he recorded or even missed. Not so with God, who reminds us in
Malachi 3:16 that he keeps a book of remembrance on us. A book of good things
we have done, and if you have a book, you are also included in the Lamb’s book
of Life. Now this book would mean something to the people at the time, as
Persian kings would keep notes of good of their subjects, sort of like my kids
used to bring home “caught being good slips” occasionally. The teacher noted
good things, and so did the king. Many times it a long took time to remember,
so the books were needed, and it took great patience for the good books to be
opened, as the kingdom was all about the king after all. So God prepared his
books on his people, to encourage the faithful ones, and keep track of their
good deeds. Today we talk of paying it ahead, and of money, God was looking at
the heart, not the pocket book or FICO score.
Maybe a better way to think of these books was to look at them as a
yearbook, or scrapbook that God keeps on us. Not to remind him, as if he could
forget, but to remind us. How many times after a trip do I look at pictures and
not remember the place. Or forgot and the pictures remind me. And the precious
memories flood my heart. God’s book is like this, and is all good things, no
bad memories included. Or sins, as Jesus was to encourage his believers to
rejoice because your names are written in heaven. To encourage them as he knew
their faithfulness would come under attack, and could result in heartache,
trouble, and even death. And so it continues today. To encourage us so we can
rest in confidence that we are remembered in God’s scrapbook of us. Which
happens to include no sin, for we are forgiven, as if it never existed. No
revisions, no updated context, our sin never exists or existed once we are
saved. Says so right in the Bible, and in the book God keeps on us. And it is
possible that this book on Job was paraded in front of Satan when he accused God
of favoring him to gain his allegiance. I am sure when reviewing it before
Satan he had full assurance of who and what and how Job would react. Is it
possible God brags on the book of us?
Now while the book of Malachi gives a detailed account or Israel and her
disobedience, anything from defective offerings, wrong teaching and errors,
unfaithfulness to wives, and even complaining how it was futile to serve God,
God knew the heart of each. And while we look at the outer man, God saw into
the heart, and our character. And based the books on love, his love reflected
in us, as evidenced by Paul. Where he talks of speaking in tongues,
prophesying, knowing all the mysteries of Christ, even giving all to help the
poor, that if it was not done in love, but to build up himself, he had nothing.
Rather he rather boast of God and how Jesus changed his life. Reminding us in
the love chapter of 1 Corinthians 13, love is patient, love is kind, it does not
envy or boast, and is not proud. Love does not dishonor others, is not self
seeking, is not easily angered, keeps no record of wrongs. Always hopes and
loves. Love never fails. And since God is love, we see the character of God
here, and the things he counts as valuable to put in our books. Again repeated
in the fruit of the spirit, love, joy, peace, patience, forbearance, goodness,
kindness, faithfulness, meekness, and self control. No laws broken among them.
The things that God remembers about us will amaze us, some of us with only a few
pages, others with volumes. But we will all be in heaven at the reading! The
same God who inspired the scriptures, has a written a book inspired by you, when
you are inspired by him! Your book is on his shelf, is his on yours? Has he
written his word on your heart? By your fruits others will know.
And so it was easy to make the decision to buy the Mustang. A 1986 GT
convertible with 103,xxx miles on it. Complete with books and records from
new. And when we traded it later with over 145,xxx miles, we got what we paid
for it on trade in, verified by the records. Before CARFAX, before computers.
We could prove our claims, and God can prove his. And you can also. And
someday when the books are opened we will be amazed at the things God noted as
important, as opposed to the things we thought were. Get to know Jesus
personally, start filling your scrapbook today. A yearbook starting the day you
were saved, right up and into heaven. Start walking in the spirit today, guided
by him, and start a treasure trove of testimonies. You never know, God may be
bragging on you! Remember that the next time you encounter a trial...someone is
watching and taking notes. Home movies of the heart, that only a loving father
could take. Are your books up to date?
love with compassion,
Mike
matthew25biker.blogspot.com