How to keep our names remembered?
How can we ensure our names are not "written in the dust"?

Verse in focus

“LORD, You are the Hope of Israel; all who abandon You will be put to shame. All who turn away will be written in the dust, for they have forsaken the LORD, the Fountain of living water.” (Jeremiah 17:13)


Dust versus permanence

• Dust is dry, shifting, and easily blown away—an image of lives detached from God’s living presence.

• Scripture contrasts dust-written names with names “written in heaven” (Luke 10:20) and in “the Book of Life” (Revelation 20:15).

• To have a name etched only in earth is to forfeit lasting identity; to have it recorded by God is to possess eternal security.


Names written in heaven

• Jesus told the disciples, “Rejoice that your names are written in heaven.” (Luke 10:20)

Revelation 3:5 promises the overcomer, “I will never blot out his name from the Book of Life.”

Philippians 4:3 speaks of coworkers “whose names are in the Book of Life.”

These verses show God actively preserving the names of those who cling to Him.


Clearing the dust

1. Trust in Christ alone

– “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved.” (Acts 16:31)

– Saving faith transfers us from death to life (John 5:24).

2. Drink continually from the Fountain

– Jesus invites, “If anyone is thirsty, let him come to Me and drink.” (John 7:37)

– The Spirit keeps the heart moist and fruitful (Galatians 5:22-23).

3. Walk in loving obedience

– “If you love Me, you will keep My commandments.” (John 14:15)

– Obedience confirms genuine faith (1 John 2:3-6).

4. Practice ongoing repentance

– “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive.” (1 John 1:9)

– Repentance sweeps away accumulating dust.

5. Abide in the Word

– “His delight is in the law of the LORD… whatever he does will prosper.” (Psalm 1:2-3)

– “Let My words remain in you.” (John 15:7)

6. Stay connected to the body

– “Let us not neglect meeting together.” (Hebrews 10:25)

– Mutual encouragement keeps hearts soft.

7. Bear lasting fruit

– “By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and prove to be My disciples.” (John 15:8)

– Fruitfulness signals roots deep in living water, not dry soil.

8. Keep eternity in view

– “Set your minds on things above.” (Colossians 3:2)

– A heavenly focus resists worldly drift.

9. Persevere to the end

– “He who endures to the end will be saved.” (Matthew 10:22)

Revelation 3:5 links perseverance with an indelible name.


Daily practices that keep us close

• Begin each morning acknowledging Christ as the Fountain of living water.

• Read and meditate on at least one passage of Scripture, asking, “How will I obey this today?”

• Build in moments to confess sin quickly, before dust hardens.

• Serve someone in Jesus’ name; love keeps the heart moist.

• End the day thanking God that your true identity is written, not in fragile soil, but in His eternal book.


Finishing strong

A name written in the dust is a warning, not a destiny for those who cling to the Lord. By trusting Christ, drinking daily from His Spirit, and walking in faithful obedience, we exchange shifting sand for everlasting security. “The world and its desires pass away, but whoever does the will of God lives forever.” (1 John 2:17)

What does 'hope of Israel' reveal about God's role in our lives?
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