My Record is on High

Job 16:19

Records play an important role in our society. We have records of our birth in the counties where we were born, and that starts a life long process of both individual and civil record keeping. We keep records as a proof of purchase. Records of crimes and violations are kept. We even have elected officials called county recorders who have the responsibility of maintaining public records.

Deeds, Mortgages, Assignments, Releases, Powers of Attorney, Real Estate Contracts, Annexations, Trustee Elections, Affidavits, Final Decrees, Surveys, Federal Tax Liens, Mechanics Liens, Military Discharges, Articles of Incorporation, Cemetery Deeds, Bonds, Plats, Condominiums, Firms Doing Business Under Assumed Names, Delinquent Sewer Liens, and Miscellaneous Instruments.

In the sports arena, records ignite some excitement. When a major record is about to be broken, the focus is placed on that team, player, or coach until the achievement comes to pass. That’s the earthly view of records, but I want to turn our attention to the heavenly view. In this passage, Job is responding to the some of the scathing attacks of his friend Eliphaz. Eliphaz has basically accused Job of some serious wrongdoing, and Job defends himself and inserts as a confirmation that he is telling the truth, that his record is on high. In other words, he is saying that God knows that what Job is saying is the truth. Do you ever consider what is being recorded about you in heaven? We know that there are records in heaven from passages like this one, and Revelation which tells us that there is the Lamb’s Book of Life, and the books of works.

1. Our new name is recorded on high.

Rev 2:17, 3:13.

Isaiah 62:2 And the Gentiles shall see thy righteousness, and all kings thy glory: and thou shalt be called by a new name, which the mouth of the LORD shall name.

This has to be my favorite heavenly recorded because it encompasses so much. There is significance because it is the name that God has chosen for me.

Abram-father, Abraham- father of a multitude. Sarai-contentious, Sarah- Princess. Jacob the schemer became Israel the Prince, or the man of power with God.

Simon became Peter a stone who served alongside Jesus Christ. Saul became Paul, a chose vessel to preach the Gospel to the Gentiles.

It is magnificent because it indicates a new start, a white stone, a clean slate. Everything is now under the blood, and that drastically changes my standing, and now my account is under the head of Jesus Christ.

2. Our prayers and tears are recorded on high. Rev 5:8, 8:3-4. When we humble ourselves and begin speaking to the Lord He records our prayer request, petitions, and intercessions. We have to make a prayer list in order to remember what we and others are praying for, but to the Lord, our prayers are so valuable and precious He keeps them like incense in a vial. That means that they have a pleasant odor, and are a worthy offering to place before the throne. He also remembers our tears.

Psalms 56:8 Thou tellest my wanderings: put thou my tears into thy bottle: are they not in thy book? I put these two together because so often our prayers bring on our tears. But it’s not just our tears in prayer, its all of them (joy, sadness, heartache, grief, pain). What a blessing to know a personal God! My record is on high.

3. Our works are recorded on high. Our good works and bad works (2 Cor 5:10). Now, we are saved unto good works.

Ephesians 2:10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them. There are some good works that are piling up in glory. The Bible says that there are crowns. There is a crown of righteousness for finishing the course, there is a crown of life for enduring temptation, and there is a crown of joy for souls that are saved.

Philippians 4:1 Therefore, my brethren dearly beloved and longed for, my joy and crown, so stand fast in the Lord, my dearly beloved.

1 Thessalonians 2:19 For what is our hope, or joy, or crown of rejoicing? Are not even ye in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at his coming? Imagine the rewards that are reserved in heaven for us because we were obedient and completed the good works that the Lord has commanded us to do. Our bad works are recorded in heaven too.

2 Corinthians 5:10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad.

There is one verse of Scripture that really came to the forefront of my mind when I was thinking about this message.

Matthew 12:36 But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment. That has always weighed heavy on my heart, but usually it hits me after I say something. We think about the Bible telling us to have gracious speech seasoned with salt, but how often are guilty of spewing out meaningless, vain sentences, that do nothing for the edifying or the ministering of the hearer? Every word we speak has the potential to do serious damage (James 3:6).

My record is on high, and so is yours. We cannot do anything about what is already recorded, but we have much to say about what is written from this point forward. Do you take Christianity seriously? Do you have the desire to please our Lord? Do you believe that your record is on high?