At its most basic level, the book of life is a record of the living -- that is, those who are alive at a particular time in history. But there's more ... much more. Scripture teaches that the book of life is God's registry of the redeemed.

When we consider the greatest work of art of all time, God's creation of the cosmos, we know that we're viewing a masterpiece in desperate need of renovation. We live in a world that groans beneath the weight of sin, and we long for the day when Christ returns and sets everything right.

The 1938 radio dramatization of H.G. Welles's War of the Worlds wasn't the start of America's fascination with UFOs and aliens, but it laid a foundation for future sightings that began in 1947. Are there aliens among us? This might seem a silly question for Christians to ponder, but our culture's deep dive into UFO and alien mania is embedded in the religions and folklores of virtually every people group going back thousands of years.

In this month's guest column, Ed Croteau writes, "Hundreds of times in the Old and New Testaments, God makes unconditional promises to the ethnic nation of Israel. My question to Christians is: If God says so -- if he makes these promises to Israel -- shouldn't we believe him?"

Psalm 69:28 is the first reference to the book of life by name in Scripture. It shares some themes with "the book you have written" and "my book" in Exodus 32:32-33. Yet, the messianic context of Psalm 69 offers insights into righteous suffering, divine justice, and a passionate defense of God's reputation.

In Psalm 139, David marvels at the all-knowing, all-powerful, and everywhere-present attributes of God. Among the psalmist's amazements are these words: "All my days were written in your book." What does this have to do with a biblical understanding of the book of life?

The epistle to the Hebrews clearly distinguishes between Jesus and created spirit beings -- or angels, as we commonly use the term. Jesus cannot be an angel in this respect (although the Old Testament often depicts him as the "angel," or more accurately "messenger," of the Lord in his preincarnate existence) because he is superior to angels. In fact, he is the creator of all things, including angels.

The Book of Life: What the Bible Says About God's Registry of the Redeemed addresses key questions about this fascinating book: What is the book of life? Why does it exist? Whose names are written there? Once entered, can names be erased? And how can I know if my name is recorded there? Written for pastors and laypersons alike, this resource is designed for personal or group study.