"Now these are the people of the province who came back from the captivity....The whole assembly together was 42,360, besides their male and female servants...and they had 200 men and women singers."
Ezra 2:1, 64-65
This chapter is a list of the families that returned to Jerusalem from Babylon. There are notable groups such as the Levites, the gatekeepers, and the sons of Asaph and other singers – bring on the choir 328 voices strong! There are the Nethinim and the priests. Sadly, among the sons of the sons of the priests were those who could not prove their lineage (vss. 59-63). They were not registered in the genealogy. They were "preacher's kids" who thought they were okay because they were sons of priests, but who were "defiled" and excluded from the priestly ministry. In any church there are people think they are Christians because they are a part of the group, but there is no heavenly record of being born again into God's Family. How sad it will be on Judgment Day when the books will be opened and whoever is not found written in the Book of Life will be excluded from heaven (see Revelation 3:8; 17:8; 20:12, 15; 21:27; 22:19). Jesus will say, "I never knew you" (Matthew 7:23). It takes more than being from a "religious" family. One's name has to be found written in the Book of Life.
Today's Thought: A requisite for being accepted into Heaven is to be listed in Christ's genealogy.
Have a "written in the Book" day. Love you.
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