Bruce Collins, Evangelist

Revelation 20:15 And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.
2 Timothy 2:19 Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his.

I like to read about people who are named in the new testament. For example, there was a certain man named Nicodemus. There was also a man named Lazarus who had sisters named Martha and Mary. Lazarus came from Bethany so we know exactly which Lazarus this was. A man named Lazarus is described in Luke 16. He was known as a beggar so likely people knew exactly which Lazarus this was. The Lord not only knew Simon, but He changed his name to Peter. The Lord knows in a personal way those who are truly saved and keeps a record of their names in His Book of Life. There are saved people in the Bible who are not named; but even when the Lord protects their identities for various reasons, He has their names in the Lamb’s Book of Life. They will not be forgotten by the Lord.

We often hear people ask others if they know the Lord. It is important to know the Lord. The word know in the Bible often has the meaning of an intimate relationship. Knowing someone means knowing more than the name or the reputation of the person. It often means that you have a close personal relationship with them. Those who have rejected the Lord do not have this kind of relationship with the Lord. Luke 13: 24-27 makes it clear that we can do a lot of things for and with the Lord, but that doesn’t mean that He “knows” us. The passage says:

Strive to enter in at the strait gate: for many, I say unto you, will seek to enter in, and shall not be able. When once the master of the house is risen up, and hath shut to the door, and ye begin to stand without, and to knock at the door, saying, Lord, Lord, open unto us; and he shall answer and say unto you, I know you not whence ye are: Then shall ye begin to say, We have eaten and drunk in thy presence, and thou hast taught in our streets. But he shall say, I tell you, I know you not whence ye are; depart from me, all ye workers of iniquity.

Perhaps instead of asking if we know the Lord, we should ask, “Does the Lord know me?” He knows those who are saved or born again. The saved or born again are those who have trusted Him for time as well as for eternity. I find it encouraging and comforting to know that the Lord knows me because I am trusting Him. I have trusted him with my soul for eternity and I am continually learning to trust Him for the circumstances of life. We who are saved are the sheep of the Lord’s pasture and the Lord says in John 10:3:

To him the porter (gatekeeper) openeth; and the sheep hear his voice: and he calleth his own sheep by name, and leadeth them out.

He calls His own sheep by name. He knows the Bruce that grew up in Mason City, IA and who currently lives in Waterloo, IA. That gives me comfort and security and assurance. I will not be forgotten by the Lord when He returns to take His own home, and I will not be forgotten in eternity. I trust that everyone who reads this has the assurance that your names are written in the Lamb’s Book of Life.

Bruce Collins