LightGrams
September 29, 2022
Volume 26, Number 30
If asked to give a memorable quote from the late artist Andy Warhol, many could give a sound bite at least: “fifteen minutes of fame”. The fuller statement is this: “In the future everybody will be world famous for fifteen minutes.” Few really know what Warhol meant, but that blurb apparently rings true with a lot of people.
Evidence of this comes from multitudes aiming for a Guinness World Record. Take Rafael Bridi and Alexander Shulz as recent examples: they set new records for the longest slackline walk over an active volcano, traveling 137 feet in the process. (Slacklines are similar to tightropes.) Earlier Bridi had set another record for walking a 59-foot slackline suspended between two hot air balloons more than a mile high in Brazil.
My reaction to stories like this (and there are many!) is, “Why?!” These men took great risks with their lives; one slip of the foot and they would have been plunged to a painful death. Because they didn’t slip, they are now record holders and have reaped fame – until someone breaks their record or until the audience moves on to the next thrill show.
At the end of my life, what will I point to as evidence of a meaningful life? I’m not in the Guinness Book of Records, nor do I have any ambition to be there. My only goal is for my name to be found in the Book of Life.
John was given a vision of the great Judgment Day at the end of time: “And I saw the dead, small and great, standing before God, and books were opened. And another book was opened, which is the Book of Life. And the dead were judged according to their works, by the things which were written in the books” (Revelation 20:12). Warhol’s prediction that “everybody will be world famous for fifteen minutes” is not likely to ever be fulfilled, but John’s inspired prediction that all will be judged is certain.
John wrote more about the book of life: “Then Death and Hades were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. And anyone not found written in the Book of Life was cast into the lake of fire” (Revelation 20:14,15).
A lake of fire is a terrifying thought, and no one would choose to enter such a place. In this case there will be no slacklines strung across the burning lake, no chances to test your skill at escaping a horrifying end. Unless our names are written in the book of life, that’s our destiny. Forever.
Jesus sent out 70 of His disciples to preach the nearness of the kingdom of God. When they returned, they were rejoicing that they had been able to cast out demons. Jesus lifted their sights higher, though: “Nevertheless do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rather rejoice because your names are written in heaven” (Luke 10:20).
Life offers many thrills for the stout of heart, and many don’t hesitate to swim with sharks, scale sheer rock cliffs, or walk slacklines over active volcanoes. Those kinds of things are not for me. I choose to think of my eternity, so I’ll be aiming to have my name written in the book of life. I would urge you to have the same ambition.
Come to the light God offers! Study His word, the Bible. Worship Him in spirit and truth (John 4:24). Get in touch with us if you’d like to discuss these ideas further.
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Copyright, 2022, Timothy D. Hall. All scripture quotations, unless otherwise noted, are from the New King James Version (Copyright, 1990, Thomas Nelson, Inc.).
“LightGrams” is produced by the Central Church of Christ, 2722 Oakland Avenue, Johnson City, Tennessee, 37601, and is written by Tim Hall, minister. It is sent free of charge every Thursday to all who request it. To subscribe or to receive more information, write to “[email protected]” (our E-mail address), to the U.S. mail address above, or call (423) 282-1571.
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