Five Books in God’s Library and Why They Matter
The library in my hometown used to be a small school, so it had the same pale vinyl tile flooring and colorless walls we expected of schools in those days. “Institutional” describes the vibe upon entering the building. But just a few steps past the foyer and up the stairs stood the doorway to one of my favorite places in the whole world.
I savored every visit to that muted room. More books lined its walls than I’d ever seen in one place, and nothing was more marvelous than the knowledge that I had free access to every book in that building. I felt like Ebenezer Scrooge surrounded by his millions of dollars, but in my case, I was surrounded by books, which were far more valuable to me than dollars!
Breathing deeply the dusty smell of old pages, sliding my finger across the spines, and silently scanning the shelves, I’d select books by their covers until the weight of my stack became unbearable. Then I’d choose my favorite red corduroy floor cushion from the pile and find a quiet corner to escape into the world of words.
There are three books from this library I clearly remember reading over and over again. One was a children’s encyclopedia of organization. I’m convinced that this book is largely responsible for the organizational skills I’ve relied upon throughout my life to spin all my plates. Another was a fictionalized account of a courageous Christian boy who smuggled Bibles into the Soviet Union. It inspired me to stand firm in my faith throughout public school. The third was a biography of a woman who endured a lifetime of suffering yet remained steadfast in her faith in Jesus Christ. Her story was a catalyst for my own pursuit of a life built on his sufficient grace.
Oh, how grateful I am for the blessing of growing up in a community with the means and motivation to provide the gift of this bountiful space and the books that helped shape me into who I am today and lay the foundation for my faith.
There’s another library I can’t wait to visit—God’s library. Did you know he has one? If you’ve ever wondered about heaven, your future, or the problem of suffering, browsing the books on the shelves of God’s library can change your life. The Bible tells us about several of God’s books.
The Book of the Law. The Book of the Law began with the ten commandments God gave his people through Moses on tablets of stone (Ex. 20:1–17). When the Bible refers to “the book of the Law,” it usually means “the Pentateuch” or the first five books of the Bible—Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy. The laws God gave to his people were to set them apart as holy, to explain how he wanted them to live, and to give us “knowledge of sin” (Rom. 3:20).
The Book of Sorrows. God keeps a record of all our tears. Psalm 56:8 says, “You keep track of all my sorrows. You have collected all my tears in your bottle. You have recorded each one in your book” (NLT). If God records something, he intends to review and remember it. Our tears—our sorrows and suffering—matter to him. He cares about us and has compassion for us. Someday, the tears we’ve sown will reap a harvest of joy (Ps. 126:5). God’s keeping track, so he’ll make sure of it!
The Book of Remembrance. Malachi 3:16 refers to a time when many of God’s people had become discouraged about serving God. They felt it wasn’t worth the trouble. Yet “those who feared the Lord spoke with one another. The Lord paid attention and heard them, and a book of remembrance was written before him of those who feared the Lord and esteemed his name.”
God listens to us when we encourage each other. He’s so pleased by this kind of loving fellowship, he actually records it in a book of remembrance.
Matthew Henry puts it this way:
Great kings had books of remembrance written, and read before them, in which were entered all the services done them, when, and by whom, as [in] Esther 2:23. God, in like manner, remembers the services of his people, that, in the review of them, he may say, Well done; enter thou into the joy of thy Lord. . . . Never was any good word spoken of God, from an honest heart, but it was registered, that it might be recompensed in the resurrection of the just, and in no wise lose its reward.
What an awesome picture—our God, the King of kings, keeps a record of our words and desires to reward us for the words we speak that glorify him!
The Book of Life. The Bible references the Book of Life in several places, but in Revelation we find the most insight. “I saw the dead, both great and small, standing before God’s throne. And the books were opened, including the Book of Life. And the dead were judged according to what they had done, as recorded in the books. . . . And anyone whose name was not found recorded in the Book of Life was thrown into the lake of fire” (Rev. 20:12, 15 NLT).
The Book of Life has eternal importance for every human being because it signals if we will go to heaven or hell. On the Day of Judgment, this book will be opened, read, and referenced. Those whose names are not in the Book of Life will be judged by their works according to the Book of the Law. Because no one can perfectly keep God’s standard of holiness, these people will go to hell (Rom. 3:23).
But there’s good news! Jesus came to fulfill the Law and to pay the penalty for our sin, which is death (Matt. 5:17; Rom. 6:23). Knowing we could not succeed in saving ourselves by works, and because he loves us so much, God sent his Son, Jesus Christ, to die in our place on the cross. Those who put their faith in this gift of grace—those who believe in the atoning work of Jesus Christ instead of relying on their own works to save them—are justified and redeemed (John 3:16–18). Their names are then recorded in the Book of Life, and they will go to heaven.
Ancient cities kept a register of their citizens. Those who put their faith in Jesus Christ are citizens of heaven (Phil. 3:20), and the Book of Life is a type of “registry of the city of God.” Friends, is your name in the Book of Life? If it is, you have an awesome eternity with God to look forward to!
The Bible. The Bible is God’s book to us, “breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness” (2 Tim. 3:16). It’s one way he’s chosen to reveal himself to us—his love for us and his plan of salvation. This book is the food and nourishment our souls need to survive (Matt. 4:4). It guides us (Ps. 119:105), brings victory (Eph. 6:17), helps us overcome sin and temptation (Ps. 119:11), strengthens our faith (Rom. 10:17), and encourages us with hope (Rom. 15:4).
We must wait till we get to heaven to see God’s other books, but he’s given us the Bible to read, study, memorize, and enjoy now. You might not be a library-lover like me. Maybe you don’t consider yourself a bookworm. But as children of God, we should all be lovers of his Word.
I don’t know what to expect of my arrival at God’s library. The Bible’s descriptions of heaven are glorious, and his library is a part of that. I do know that someday God’s library will become my favorite place in the whole world because he’ll be there, along with his books, and I’ll get to stay forever. Will you join me?
Jana Carlson is a writer, Bible teacher, and mentor. She creates resources and offers workshops to inspire women and writers to love the Bible, experience its transforming power for every season of life, and wield the Word for God’s glory. She’s a member of Rocky Mountain Calvary Chapel in Alberta, Canada, where she serves as a blog coordinator, editor, and women’s ministry leader. Connect with her at janacarlson.com.