Jump Start # 77

Luke 10:20 “Nevertheless do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rejoice that your names are recorded in Heaven.”

  Luke records the return of the seventy disciples from the limited commission. Jesus had sent out these seventy to preach and do miracles. This is called the “limited commission” as opposed to the “great commission” which is found at the end of the Gospels. It is limited in location, they only went to the cities of Judea. It was limited in time, it lasted only a short while. And it was limited in the message, full salvation would not appear until the Lord had been crucified and resurrected. That was still to come.

  The seventy have returned from their mission. Luke states that they “returned with joy.” I expect they left with a bit of fear and uneasiness. When Jesus sent them out, He didn’t go with them. They had not preached before. They had seen miracles, but they had not actually done any themselves. But now, it was mission accomplished. The work was a success. They were thrilled and excited, especially that they could cast out demons. Possessed by demons was a terrible state. The demon took over and controlled the person, often young children. Nothing could be done. Through the power of God, these demons were cast out and cast into torment never to bother a person again. These seventy were doing what no one else could, except Jesus. They were doing what the Lord had been doing. Jesus says in this context, “I have given you authority to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing will injure you.” Now, not only did Jesus have this power and authority, but He could pass it on to His disciples. Indeed Jesus was all authority and all power.

  Success is a great feeling, whether on the ball field, the court room, the work place or as parents, and here, spiritually. 

When things are right and we were a part of that, it makes us feel good. It gives us a sense that we are part of something big. I believe the Lord knew they would be successful. There is no way that Christ is going to fail, especially to Satan. His disciples may not have known that, but Jesus did.

  Our verse today puts everything into perspective, the greatest joy is having your names recorded in Heaven. We remember in the judgment scene in Revelation 20, that those whose names were written in the book of life entered Heaven. This is what Jesus has in mind. In the grand picture of things, casting out demons is great, but being a part of Heaven is greater. The people who had the demons removed, returned to a normal life. They went to work, raised families and have since all died. We can’t even give a name of someone that the seventy helped. But Heaven lasts. It’s forever. It is for eternity.

  This perspective that Jesus revealed is needed for us. We dwell among the temporary. These “Jump Starts” that I write won’t last very long. Houses don’t last forever. Cars certainly don’t. Jobs, money, looks, pets, they are all temporary. They are the now. We enjoy them. We use them. But too often, we define life by them and put all of our energy and time in them. They don’t last. But having your name in Heaven does.

  The Lord is talking about the greatest book of all, the book of life. You need to have your name there. You can’t put it there, God does. He does that as a result of our faith and obedience to Him. Hebrews 5:9 says that Jesus is the author of salvation to all those that obey Him. The way this is written it seems that the disciples would know that their names were there. Shouldn’t it be the same for us? Is your name in God’s book? You’ll want it there. It brings you great joy knowing that it is there. No matter how dark the day, knowing your name is in God’s book, makes all the difference in the world. It means you belong to God and you are going somewhere, you are going to Heaven!

 Roger