What Will be Recorded?

Attending the theater can be an exciting and entertaining experience. Whether it is a professional performance, Community Theater or a youth production, the audience watches each scene with great interest. Theater attendees often receive or even purchase a playbill, also called a program. Within the pages of this program is biographical information about the cast members who are filling the major roles. These bios often include past accomplishments from the actor’s dramatic career, personal interests and in the case of youth, their future goals.

In the book of Nehemiah there's a list of the accomplishments of the workmen we shared together in the rebuilding of Jerusalem's wall. (See Nehemiah 3) Amid all the workers on this list that join together to accomplish this great task, a single group is noted who did not participate. “Next to them the Tekoites repaired, but their nobles or lords did not put their necks to the work of their Lord. (Nehemiah 3:5 AMP) Amazingly enough it was not the commoner, but the nobles, who refused to assist in the work of God. These nobles, or rulers, have been noted for the ages to follow as the ones who refused to obey God and work.

In a list of followers of God, what do we want to be known for? Just as the audience of a play or the mockers who watched on as Nehemiah and the men of Judah work to repair Jerusalem's wall, (See Nehemiah 4) there will always be those who are watching our daily lives. Do we want to be known as believers who talked about the love of Jesus but showed no evidence that it was present in our lives? Or will we order the actions of our lives to line up with the love of God?

Jesus demonstrated true love for us. “By this we come to know (progressively to recognize, to perceive, to understand) the [essential] love: that He laid down His [own] life for us; and we ought to lay [our] lives down for [those who are our] brothers [in Him].” (1 John 3:16 AMP) Are we following His example and obeying His mandate to lay down our desires for the benefit of others? Jesus gave his disciples a clear definition of true love and a wonderful promise that accompanies this love. “Jesus answered, If a person [really] loves Me, he will keep My word [obey My teaching]; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our home (abode, special dwelling place) with him.” (John 14:23 AMP) True love of God requires obedience to God.

Jesus also commands us to love each other. “I give you a new commandment: that you should love one another. Just as I have loved you, so you too should love one another. By this shall all [men] know that you are My disciples, if you love one another [if you keep on showing love among yourselves].” (John 13:34-35 AMP) Notice that others will recognize that we follow Jesus when we show this love for others. The Apostle Paul later defines the actions of this love for us.  “Love bears up under anything and everything that comes, is ever ready to believe the best of every person, its hopes are fadeless under all circumstances, and it endures everything [without weakening]. Love never fails [never fades out or becomes obsolete or comes to an end].” (1 Corinthians 13:7-8a AMP)

In addition to the annals that we write by our actions, observers in the audience of our lives are also writing a critique of our performance. We may mis-speak a line by momentary failures and sin, but it is the sincerity and feeling with which we play our lives’ roles that will be remembered. The sum of our actions and the heart behind them will be recorded in the minds of onlookers. This audience is intently watching our actions and writing our bios. Therefore, “And whatever you do [no matter what it is] in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus and in [dependence upon] His Person, giving praise to God the Father through Him.” (Colossians 3:17AMP) This will ensure a well written biography.

Do your actions reflect the love of God? These actions will determine what is recorded about you. Live well!