I have fond memories of the years I spent teaching high school mathematics. One of the things I loved about teaching, it was a profession in which you were able to start over each year. The mistakes of each year could be buried with the close of the school year. Starting each year fresh with the wisdom from the past year was a good thing.
With the beginning of each new school year, I remember the first day of class. I would have 30 new faces, most of them completely new and unknown to me, enter my classroom. I would begin by calling the roll from my attendance sheet. Much to the dismay of my students I would then place them in alphabetical order. I told them it was to help me learn their names. That was true but it wasn’t the only reason. It also helped to separate potential friendly disruptions before they occurred.
It was not unusual when I finished the roll call for a student to be left out. That is to say, their name was not on my roll. It could have been because they were in the wrong class or perhaps their name just needed to be added to my roll.
At any rate, consider their situation. “You didn’t call my name. My name was not on the roll.”
The spiritual application is obvious. In a much more serious way consider GOD’S roll call. Twice in the book of Revelation, reference is made to “anyone whose names have not been written in the Book of Life.” (Rev 13:8, 20:15)
GOD’S roll in the Book of Life is the ultimate roll. That is the one time I don’t want my name to be left out.
Hebrews 12:23 refers to those “who are registered in heaven”.
The Scriptures make mention of this in many places.
The Lord once commissioned 70 disciples to go out two by two into the surrounding places. Upon returning to the Lord, they joyfully observed that even the demons were subject to them in Jesus’ name. But the Lord said, “Do not rejoice in this, but rather rejoice because your names are written in heaven.” Luke 10:20
Paul referenced several whose names are in the Book of Life. (Philippians 4:3)
Moses said his own name was written there. (Exodus 32:32)
Daniel mentioned those who are found written in the book. (Daniel 12:1)
When that final roll is called, there will be no one left off by mistake. There will be no one in the wrong room. There will be no late additions, that is, there will be no rectifying the situation at that point. It will be too late to make changes.
I want my name to be written in heaven. Don’t you?