Monday, October 26, 2026

            In Luke 10, Jesus appointed seventy-two men to go ahead of Him into the towns and places where Jesus had planned to visit.  He gave them clear instructions about what to do and to say.  Luke 10:17 says the seventy-two returned to Jesus “with joy.”  They said, “Lord, even the demons submit to us in your name” (Luke 10:17).  Such a thing would be amazing for anyone to witness—to see demons yield in submission and surrender would be an extraordinary sight!  Plenty of movies have been made about the phenomenon of demons but Jesus gave the seventy-two the authority to deal with demons in real time and real ways.  Jesus confirmed to them that He had given them His authority to do all manner of amazing things—trample snakes and scorpions, cast out demons and overcome Satan’s snares and ways.  But then Jesus said, “However, do not rejoice that the spirits {demons} submit to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven” (Luke 10:20).  By Jesus’ word and authority, the greatest and most amazing reality that we can embrace is the truth that our names are written in heaven. This truth is binding for men and women who have heard and responded to the gospel message of Jesus.  We can rejoice in this good news. That is precisely why heaven indeed rejoices whenever a lost, sinful soul comes to Christ.
            It can be easy to get caught up in things like signs, wonders, miracles, possessing power over demons and resisting Satan.  These kinds of things seem to be exciting and dazzling.  They grab the headlines and often grab our eyes as well.  People, by nature, often gravitate toward the sensational things.  But Jesus said we are to rejoice that we have a place in heaven and that we are bound to Him.  Paul wrote about the names of believers being written in the book of life (see Philippians 4:3).  Paul also wrote about our citizenship being in heaven (Philippians 3:20). It is amazing and joyous to consider that God has done everything necessary to secure a place for us with Him forever.  Jesus has paid the price for our sins and is the only way we can have an eternal home in heaven where our names are forever written in the book of life.  Jesus does not just make a way for us; He is our way (John 14:6).
            Everlasting life is the unending and permanent by-product of our salvation. Jesus later said in Luke 10:23-24, “Then he turned to his disciples and said privately, ‘Blessed are the eyes that see what you see.  For I tell you that many prophets and kings wanted to see what you see but did not see it, and to hear what you hear but did not hear it.’”  The men and women of the Old Testament longed to see the joys that we securely possess in Jesus—a new and everlasting life and home in eternity.  This simple truth reminds us that God is good and kind.  His love endures forever.  Revelation 20, near the end of the Bible, reminds us once again that saved men and women possess the certainty of knowing beyond any doubt that their names are written in God’s book of life.  Our lives have been stained and scarred by sin in almost every imaginable way.  But there is coming a place and time that sin has not and cannot touch. 
            Take confidence in these words from Jesus and the comforting words of Scripture found elsewhere in the Bible.  We will build our faith not on feelings, emotions or our grandest dreams.  We build our faith on what the Lord has promised to us in His Word.  Earth is characterized by time, space and matter.  But heaven is a realm of reality that exists beyond what we presently know or experience by our brains and five senses.  We enter the presence of heaven and eternity quicker than we can blink our eyes or take a shallow breath.  Jesus teaches us to rejoice over the simple certainty that we are His and that our names are written down in heaven in an indelible ink that never fades or fails.  If Jesus says to rejoice over something, then it is certainly worth our attention and obedience. We can preach this message to ourselves each day.  We can write it down in our Bible in the margin of Luke 10 so we never forget this blessing.  While some people may seek headlines or spectacles, we always want to come back to the simple truths that are suitable for eternity.  Have a great Monday!