Luke 10: 17-20  The 70 disciples "returned with joy" from their mission trip. It had been a success in their eyes because "even the demons are subject to us in Your name."  

Jesus had a  few things to say about this.  He acknowledged that Satan was defeated by this profound defeat of his minions.. and that the authority that God had granted His followers would be granted even further... but the most important thing was not that at all.. the most important thing is that their names "are recorded in heaven." 

I'm reminded of an old hymn,  Is My Name Written There?  The chorus goes like this: " Is my name written there, on the page white and fair? In the book of Thy kingdom, Is my name written there?" 

Revelation 20:12 "And I saw the dead, the great and the small, standing before the throne, and books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life; and the dead were judged from the things in the books, according to their deeds."   In Revelation 20:15 the Lord tells us that "... if anyone's name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire."  

Moses is the first to mention this "book of life" in  Exodus 32:31-33.  After Moses came down from the mountain and found the people worshipping the golden calf... and after he commanded that those who were on the Lord's side kill those who were not.. he went back up the mountain to pray for forgiveness for the people, saying, "But now, if Thou wilt, forgive their sin - and if not, please blot me out from Thy book, which Thou hast written."  But the Lord responded to Moses, "Whoever has sinned against Me, I will blot him out of My book." 

Psalm 69:28 also references this book.. "May they be blotted out of the book of life, and may they not be recorded with the righteous."  David was speaking of those who had come against him, but there are Messianic overtones- verse 21 "they also gave me gall for my food, and for my thirst they gave me vinegar to drink." 

Revelation 3:3-5 also mentions the book of life.. " He who overcomes shall thus be clothed in white garments; and I will not erase his name from the book of life, and I will confess his name before My Father, and before His angels."  How do we overcome? " Remember therefore what you have received and heard; and keep it, and repent." ( verse 3a) 

So when Jesus tells his followers to rejoice that their names are written in heaven, He is talking about the most important thing for all of eternity.  If our names are "blotted out" because of our sin.. we will be thrown into the lake of fire.. forever!   So, we need to ask ourselves that question from the old hymn.. "Is my name written there?"  Have I received the Word of God.. have I listened to what Jesus has said.. am I keeping the Word.. have I repented of my sins? 

Father in heaven, keep us in the Truth, walking in the Light of Your Word - that our names will be written in heaven!  In this alone will we rejoice.. that Jesus confesses our names before You!  Thank You for cleansing us from our sins and making us wholly Thine.  Blessed be the Name of the Lord who has written our names in the Book of life. Thank You Lord. Amen.