The New Testament refers to the Book of Life of the Lamb, and we know that the Lamb is Jesus, for he is the one John the Baptist was referring to (John 1:29) when he said, "Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!"
Jesus the Christ came into the world to save sinners, and thus the Book of Life of the Lamb is the one in which are entered the names of those who have received his gift of eternal life.
The most important difference between these two books is that it is clear a person can have his name blotted out of the Book of the Living. But in Revelation 3:5, Jesus himself promises, "He who overcomes shall be clothed in white garments, and I will not blot out his name from the Book of Life; but I will confess his name before My Father and before His angels."
The overcomers he is referring to are those clothed in the white garments of Christ himself, guaranteeing that their names cannot be blotted out of the Book of Life of the Lamb.
To me the Book of the Living is a picture of the mercy of God. It is as if in loving anticipation of our salvation, he writes every person's name in that book. If one dies without trusting Christ for salvation, his name is blotted out, because he is no longer among the living. But those who have trusted Christ have been written in the Lamb's Book of Life, so that when they die physically, they remain alive spiritually and are never blotted out.
Rayford had to admit to himself that he had also worried about his own response if he were to face the guillotine. He wanted to be true and faithful to the one who died for him, and he wanted to see his family again. But if he failed and proved a coward, he had wondered whether he would lose his standing before God.
"Tsion," he said, "I wouldn't change a word. This will uplift and comfort millions. It sure helped me."
TWENTY
David couldn't sit still. How was he going to pull this off? Maybe he should act uninterested in Chang as an employee. Would anybody fall for that? He stood and paced, straightening his tie and buttoning his uniform jacket.
When Moon, Mr. Wong, and Chang finally arrived, David was disconcerted at Chang's appearance. A slight, fair-skinned seventeen-year-old, he wore khakis, a plain shirt, a light jacket zipped to the neck, and a red baseball cap pulled low over his eyes. He was clearly angry, his eyes darting everywhere but at David.
Moon and Mr. Wong were giddy, laughing, talking loudly. "Ever see a boy so afraid?" Mr. Wong said. "Can't say I have!"
Tiffany ushered them in, and David shook hands, first with Walter, then Mr. Wong, who said, "Hat off for meeting, Chang."
For the first time since he had seen them interact at the Carpathia funeral, David saw Chang ignore his father. The elder reddened and lost his smile, then faked one, pumping David's hand. "Made hat come off for picture!"
Moon laughed at the memory of it, whatever it was.
David thrust his hand toward Chang, who ignored it. He stood looking down. His father nearly exploded. "Shake hands with boss, Chang!"
The boy lazily reached out, but he did not grip when David did, and it was like shaking a fish. David thought he saw a tear slide next to the boy's mouth. Maybe this was for the best. If David were to try to bust him out of the place in a few days, it would be better if they didn't act civil to each other.
Walter Moon said, "He is risen."
Mr. Wong and David responded, "He is risen indeed." David was startled to hear Chang mutter, "Christ is risen indeed."
Chang may have considered that godly courage, but David saw it as teenage recklessness. No one else seemed to have heard it.
"Sit, please, gentlemen," David said. "I'd like to spend time alone with the candidate, but it's probably just as well you're both here, Chief Moon and Mr. Wong. I've been studying the personnel manual, and frankly, I don't see any way around the age issue."
"Age issue?" Mr. Wong said, looking stricken. "What's that?"
"Good," Chang said and rose to leave.
"Sit! Mind manners! You guest here and interview for position!"
Chang slowly plopped back, slouching and crossing his feet.
Moon dismissed David's concern with a gesture. "His Excellency has already waived that, and-"
"The policy allows no exceptions," David pressed.
"David," Walter said slowly, reminding him of the way he had just heard Carpathia speak to Moon, "the potentate is policy. If he determines that this young man and his off-the-charts intellect and computer savvy will be valuable to the Global Community, then it's a done deal."
David took a breath, deciding to go on the offensive.
But Moon wasn't finished. "You're aware that Potentate Carpathia has already cleared Chang to finish his last year of high school here, and of course we then offer college classes as well."
"I was under the impression the school here was for the benefit of the children of employees," David tried.
"I don't think the teachers care who the students' parents are. Tell Mr. Wong what you are envisioning for Chang, David."
Mr. Wong, grinning, leaned forward to drink it in.
Here goes nothing, David thought. "I envision him finishing high school in China and at least beginning his career anywhere but here."
Mr. Wong's smile disappeared. "What?" he said, turning to Moon.
"David!" Walter said. "What the-"
"Look at him," David said, and both men turned to see Chang staring at the floor, hands in his pockets.
"Sit up, boy. You know better. You shame me."
Chang made a halfhearted effort to shift and raised his chin an inch, but he remained a picture of insolence. His father reached to tug at the shoulder of his jacket, and Chang wrenched away. Mr. Wong glowered at him.
"He doesn't want to work here," David said. "He's young, immature, simply not ready. I don't doubt his credentials or his potential, but let him work out the kinks on someone else's money."
"Now, let's not be hasty, David," Moon said. "The boy's just been through a bit of a trauma. He was scared, but he went through with it, and he's clearly still a little shaken."
David cocked his head as if willing to consider the excuse. "Oh?"
"Yes," Mr. Wong said. "He upset. He frightened of needle. Didn't want injection. Scream. Cry. Try to get away, but we hold him down. He thank me someday. Maybe tomorrow."
"And he needed an injection for what?"
"Biochip!" Mr. Wong announced proudly. "One of first to get it! See?"
He reached for the boy's cap, but Chang stood again and turned his back on his father. David fought to maintain composure. Now what? How had he let this happen?
"When?" he blurted. "How?"
"This morning," Walter said. "I was hoping they'd be ready for him. Took a photo along and everything. But they weren't, not really. We were going to just wait till later, but they could see I had gone to a lot of trouble, so when the first unit was plugged in and ready to go, they tested it and then made him the first recipient here. Not sure the picture's much good though. The boy wasn't any happier there than here."
David said, "Well, that's… ah… that's-" "Something, huh?" Walter said. "I think the boy is glad to have it over with, and if he's honest he'll admit it didn't hurt a bit."
"I proud! Son will be soon, you'll see. But he ready for work now. No age problem. No school problem. This is place for him."
"Global Community maybe," David said, his voice hollow. How was he going to explain this to Ming? "But not my department."
"Don't be ridiculous, David. We just explained his attitude. You and I both know there's no better place for him."
"Then you take him. I don't want him. I don't have the energy to try to win him over while training him."
"I'm of a mind to take him, David. He's going to make somebody look like a genius. It had might as well be me."
David stood and spread his arms, palms up. "Good to see you all again."