THE ADDRESS BOOK

Recently in a dream I heard, “You are in my Address Book.” It was an assuring, loving voice. When I was awake I thought about the dream and realized that I had never thought much concerning about being in or out of the Father’s love and care or Address Book. Like Bob Mumford once said: “The Father has a picture of me on his refrigerator.” So, I wondered about the Address Book.

It reminded me of the verses in the Bible that mention the Book of LIfe or the Lamb’s Book of Life (Psalms 69, Philippians 4 and seven times in The Revelation). It seems to be a figurative expression of God’s record keeping of humans and their works. It is especially used by John, an apostle, as a judgment metaphor: A person is in the Book or not in the Book. This same John used the metaphor ‘street of gold’ to describe some future city as a wonderful place (Revelation 21:21).

I appreciate some of the Hebrew poetic langage to ‘tell the stories’ in scripture because they bring causative clarity to the reader or listerner. It is a basic record-keeping picture to help humans understand the need to respond to the Lord. However, the Father that knows our name and address does not need a little Book of Life or Address Book to help remember and keep track of who’s who and what’s going on. The Big Know All About God Book says: The Lord is ‘Omnisient- having complete or unlimited knowledge, awareness, or understanding; perceiving all things.’ No little books needed. I’m going with that.

“For your Father knows what you need before you ask him.” Jesus