And if you are inclined by now to think every specialty on earth has a "Who's Who," surely you wouldn't be surprised to find that heaven has one too.

All the earthly "Who's Who" volumes carry a high entrance fee of achievement. You have to be the fastest or smartest, richest or most powerful, first to discover or last to abandon. You might get in if you win enough medals, lose enough pounds, or draw the most beautiful pictures. Practically all firsts get in, maybe a few seconds, and practically no others.

The heavenly "Who's Who" has a different criterion for being included. Oh, none of the pretty, smart, powerful, or first-place people are necessarily excluded from it. On the other hand — and this is what is most important — people who belong to none of these categories may also be included.

God's standard of excellence is totally different.

How does someone qualify? Just think of some of the names already on the list, and identify what they have in common. There are women like Sarah, Rahab, Deborah, Mary, and Dorcas. There are men like Noah, Moses, Amos, John the Baptist, and Timothy. You will find kings and fishermen, farmers and seamstresses, a few the world called "somebodies" and several it called "nobodies."

A few had their names included for big things they did, and many, many more for little things. One I recall led forces that defeated a much larger and better-equipped army. Another only shared his sack lunch that contained five pieces of bread and two smoked fish.

Figured it out yet? It has nothing to do with greatness in the eyes of the world, for God's standard of excellence is totally different. In the words of T.W. Matson, "In the kingdom of God, service is not the path to greatness. It is greatness."

Jesus said it very simply: "The greatest among you will be your servant" (Matthew 23:11 TNIV). Heaven's "Who's Who" lists servants — only servants.

 

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© 2007 Used by permission. From Rubel Shelly's "FAX of Life" printed each Tuesday. See Faith Matters for previous issues of the "FAX of Life."

Title: "The Who's Who that Really Matters"
Author: Rubel Shelly
Publication Date: September 20, 2007

The Reason for God: Belief in God in an Age of Skepticism by Timothy Keller Responding to the questions of open skeptics and ardent believers, Keller draws from literature, philosophy, reason, and real-life conversations to explain how faith in a Christian God is a soundly rational belief.

Rubel Shelly preached for the Woodmont Hills Churchin Nashville for thirty years. He is the author of more than 20 books. He has accepted the position of President of Rochester College. For more details, click here or here to email.

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