Nevertheless

09.27.12

Luke 10.20 20 "Nevertheless do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rejoice that your names are recorded in heaven.” NASB

In my Bible, the pericope reads, “The Happy Results”. Jesus had sent out seventy that He had appointed to minister in Israel and they came back rejoicing because of their labors. Lord, they exclaimed, even the demons are subject to us in Your Name. And Jesus replies, “I was watching Satan fall from heaven like lightning. Behold, I have given you authority to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing will injure you. Nevertheless do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rejoice that your names are recorded in heaven.”

There was a point to all they were doing, that is true, but the bigger point was this: You belong to God.

In our day there is much to distract us from what is really important. We worry (like Martha in this same chapter of Luke) about many things. Nevertheless, there is only one thing that is to be the focus of our life: God. We worry about elections, economies, ecology, Europe, and things like that. And why not, those things are important. But those things are not the most important and in reality, they aren’t important at all because all of those things are destined to perish.

Martha was hung up on the mundane, the seventy were hung up on the miraculous, Jesus said if you’re gonna give anything your time and attention, give it to the marvelous truth that your name (not your neighbor’s, not Mary’s, not your mother’s – no yours) is written down in heaven as a welcome citizen of that eternal community! That’s worth getting hung up on!

A name that is recorded in heaven is a name that is renowned by belief. Not exploits, not daring-do, but simply because that name stands for the allegiance of the one to whom it belongs to the King of Heaven in Whom all things belong. Demons are overrated. Yes, they know a trick or two in their culture, but they are nothing – NOTHING – compared to the King Eternal. If you are scared of God, your fear is nothing compared to theirs – they are absolutely terrified of Him!

Jesus told the seventy, Look boys, as much fun as you are having, don’t lose sight of this one thing: your name is known by God and is known in all of heaven for what you believe in Whom you believe.

And that’s really it, isn’t it? What you believe about Whom you believe. And if we believe, our names are written down in a book or on a page or somewhere in heaven so that when we show up at the party, we are welcomed in forever. It isn’t about demons or supposed sloth: it truly is about the King of Glory; and our names are known by Him. If we’re ever going to be known by Anyone, it’s worth being known by Him. Nevertheless be overjoyed that your names are know by Him!