On the Road to Jerusalem: Written in Heaven

“Nevertheless, do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven."—Luke 10:20

After Jesus sent out His seventy-two disciples, they returned with joy saying, “Lord, even the demons are subject to us in Your name!” He said,  

“I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven. Behold, I have given you authority to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall hurt you. Nevertheless, do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven." 

 Jesus wanted the disciples to glory in the fact that they were going to heaven, not that they had authority to do great things on earth. Our citizenship is in heaven, and we must learn to conduct ourselves in a manner worthy of God.

“But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly body to be like His glorious body, by the power that enables Him even to subject all things to Himself”—Philippians 3:20-21.

As we continue on this Lent, let’s pause for a moment to thank God for writing our names in heaven. When on the cross, Jesus said, “It is finished” (John 19:30). He was not just saying that His life was over, but that redemption was complete. He successfully purchased our salvation. And now, our salvation is secure, we have been sealed, and heaven is our destination. There is nothing on this earth that can keep us from what awaits us! No one can take away our salvation and nothing can keep us from what God has prepared for us! We long for the day when we will be with Him! As Paul wrote,

“If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare His own Son but gave Him up for us all, how will He not also with Him graciously give us all things? Who shall bring any charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised— who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? As it is written, ‘For Your sake we are being killed all the day long; we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered.’

No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord” —Romans 8:31-39.

Thank God for your salvation and glory in your destination! Nothing is going to keep you from receiving what Jesus Christ has done on your behalf! Amen.