“…nothing unclean and no one who practices abomination and lying, shall ever come into it, but only those whose names are written in the Lamb’s book of life.” (Revelation 21:22-27, NASB)

Being good enough is not enough to enter heaven. I’m using the term “heaven” in a general sense to describe the place where God promised His people would go for eternity. In the book of Revelation, there are more specific words to describe this amazing place, such as the new heaven, the new earth, and the new Jerusalem. Now, whether you are using a general term or specific terms to describe this place, the conclusion is the same: not everyone will get to go there. There is no one who is “good enough” in God’s eyes. There are only those who belong to the Lamb and those who are not, and those whose names are written in the Lamb’s book of life will enter heaven. It says in today’s passage,

“And I saw no temple in it, for the Lord God, the Almighty, and the Lamb, are its temple. And the city has no need of the sun or of the moon to shine upon it, for the glory of God has illumined it, and its lamp is the Lamb. And the nations shall walk by its light, and the kings of the earth shall bring their glory into it. And in the daytime (for there shall be no night there) its gates shall never be closed; and they shall bring the glory and the honor of the nations into it; and nothing unclean and no one who practices abomination and lying, shall ever come into it, but only those whose names are written in the Lamb’s book of life.”

The “city” that today’s passage speaks of is the new Jerusalem that comes down from heaven after God creates a new heaven and earth. This new world will not require sunlight or moonlight, as God and the Lamb will provide its light. It has no need for a physical temple, as God and the Lamb will be its temple. The new Jerusalem in this new world will be a home to God’s people, consisting of nations, kings, and everyone who belongs to the Lamb.

Verse 27 makes it clear as it says, “Nothing unclean and no one who practices abomination and lying, shall ever come into it, but only those whose names are written in the Lamb’s book of life.” The first part of this verse can be confusing to many people. They may say to themselves by saying, “I am not an utterly evil and unclean person. I am a good enough person, and God will accept me into heaven.” This is how typical “religious” people think. They will argue that they are clean enough, righteous enough, and holy enough to be accepted into heaven. This is the human standard for who is good. What today’s passage is saying is that no one will be “good enough” to go to heaven. There are only those who belong to the Lamb and those who do not, and no in between. Furthermore, the Bible is absolutely clear on who belongs to the Lamb and who does not. Ephesians 2:8-9 says, “For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, that no one should boast.” Salvation from sin and entry into heaven are by faith in God’s grace, and not of works. There is no boasting in heaven that one entered there by being a good enough person. Christian faith is not a religion, but a relationship with Jesus Christ. This is God’s standard for who is good.

According to today’s passage, heaven is a home to the Lord God, the Almighty, and the Lamb, who is perfect, holy, and pure. It says that there will be no temple in heaven, for God Himself will be its temple. If God Himself is the temple, then He will make sure that anyone who enters will be holy as He is. God will not allow anything or anyone who is even slightly unclean to enter there. For example, let’s say you were a good person who sinned a couple of times in your life, and God chose to let you into heaven because you were good enough. Then, to be fair, He must also allow other good enough people to enter into heaven. If God allowed one million people who were good enough to enter heaven, then how many unclean things do you think there will be in heaven? You see, heaven will no longer be heaven, and God will no longer be God.

People who think they are good enough are missing the point. The point of this verse is to show that only those who are completely and perfectly clean, righteous, and good can enter heaven. The point of the whole Bible is to show that God has provided a way for sinners to be clean and righteous by providing His Son as a perfect propitiation for our sins. It is not about being good enough, but being declared good by God through faith in Christ. The last part of this verse makes it clear. Only the people whose names are written in the Lamb’s book of life can enter heaven, and they are those who have confessed that they are sinners and have been redeemed by his blood. Being good enough will not be enough, but receiving Jesus because you are not good enough will be enough.

• How does one get their name recorded in the Lamb’s book of life?
• If you know that your name is written in the Lamb’s book of life, how should you live for Him today?