How to Get Your Name in The Book - by Mark Morgan The goal of many modern day hunters is not only that of harvesting a deer, but harvesting a trophy buck large enough so that they get their name in the book. We hunters spend countless hours scouting the fields and forests for the clues that will lead us to the right stand location. Then we devote more time waiting in the stand for the mature buck to appear and offer us that opportunity to put our name in the book. When that mature animal arrives at our stand what we do will determine whether or not our names will be entered in the book. The Bible tells us of another book where our choices determine whether or not our names are entered. In Rev. 20:15 we find "and whosoever was not found in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire." A lot of hunters know by heart the requirements for getting their name in either the BOONE & CROCKET or POPE & YOUNG record book. Both have established guidelines and minimums for entry. Just as a good set of antlers may miss the mark and fall short of the minimum for entry; the Bible tells us that all good men, including you, have already missed the mark of living a sinless life. Romans 3:23 states "for all have sinned and come short of the glory of God." We have all missed the mark yet there is hope, for in Romans 5:8 we read "but God commendeth his love toward us in that while we were yet sinners Christ died for us." Jesus Christ, God's Son, lived a perfect sinless life and died on the cross, paying the penalty for your sins and mine. Romans 6:23 tells us of this sacrificial gift, "for the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord." The Bible also tells us that no matter how hard we try we cannot earn our way into "The Book" or heaven. Titus 3:5 teaches that, "not by works of righteousness which we have done but according to his mercy he saved us" and in Romans 10:9-10 we find out how to get our name in "The Book;" "if thou shaft confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus Christ and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved, for with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation." We know this because a few verses later in Romans 10:13 we read that, "whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved." Friend, that "whosoever" means you. If you would like to be sure that your name is written in the BOOK OF LIFE and that heaven will someday be your home, pray the following prayer and mean it with all of your heart. "Dear Lord Jesus, I know that I am a sinner and cannot save myself. I believe that you died on the cross for my sins. I repent of my sins and trust Jesus as my own personal Savior. Thank you Lord Jesus for saving me. In Jesus name I pray. Amen."