I dreamed I was in heaven 
Where an angel kept God's book. 
He was writing so intently 
I just had to take a look. 

It was not, at first, his writing 
That made me stop and think 
But the fluid in the bottle 
That was marked eternal ink. 

This ink was most amazing, 
Dark black upon his blotter 
But as it touched the parchment 
It became as clear as water. 

The angel kept on writing, 
But as quickly as a wink 
The words were disappearing 
With that strange eternal ink. 

The angel took no notice, 
But kept writing on and on. 
He turned each page and filled it 
Till all its space was gone. 

I thought he wrote to no avail, 
His efforts were so vain 
For he wrote a thousand pages 
That he'd never read again. 

And as I watched and wondered that 
This awesome sight was mine, 
I actually saw a word stay black 
As it dried upon the line. 

The angel wrote and I thought I saw 
A look of satisfaction. 
At last he had some print to show 
For all his earnest action. 

A line or two dried dark and stayed 
As black as black can be, 
But strangely the next paragraph 
Became invisible to see. 

The book was getting fuller, 
The angel's records true, 
But most of it was blank, with 
Just a few words coming through. 

I knew there was some reason, 
But as hard as I could think, 
I couldn't grasp the significance 
Of that eternal ink. 

The mystery burned within me, 
And I finally dared to ask 
The angel to explain to me 
Of his amazing task. 

And what I heard was frightful 
As the angel turned his head. 
He looked directly at me, 
And this is what he said... 

I know you stand and wonder 
At what my writing's worth 
But God has told me to record 
The lives of those on earth. 

The book that I am filling 
Is an accurate account 
Of every word and action 
And to what they do amount. 

And since you have been watching 
I must tell you what is true; 
The details of my journal 
Are the strict accounts of YOU. 

The Lord asked me to watch you 
As each day you worked and played. 
I saw you as you went to church, 
I saw you as you prayed. 

But I was told to document 
Your life through all the week. 
I wrote when you were proud and bold, 
I wrote when you were meek. 

I recorded all your attitudes 
Whether they were good or bad. 
I was sorry that I had to write 
The things that make God sad. 

So now I'll tell the wonder 
Of this eternal ink, 
For the reason for its mystery 
Should make you stop and think. 

This ink that God created 
To help me keep my journal 
Will only keep a record of 
Things that are eternal. 

So much of life is wasted 
On things that matter not 
So instead of my erasing, 
Smudging ink and ugly blot. 

I just keep writing faithfully and 
Let the ink do all the rest 
For it is able to decide 
What's useless and what's best. 

And God ordained that as I write 
Of all you do and say 
Your deeds that count for nothing 
Will just disappear away. 

When books are opened someday, 
As sure as heaven is true; 
The Lord's eternal ink will tell 
What mattered most to you. 

If you just lived to please yourself 
The pages will be bare, 
And God will issue no reward 
For you when you get there. 

In fact, you'll be embarrassed, 
You will hang your head in shame 
Because you did not give yourself 
In love to Jesus' Name. 

Yet maybe there will be a few 
Recorded lines that stayed 
That showed the times you truly cared, 
Sincerely loved and prayed. 

But you will always wonder 
As you enter heaven's door 
How much more glad you would have been 
If only you'd done more. 

For I record as God sees, 
I don't stop to even think 
Because the truth is written 
With God's eternal ink. 

When I heard the angel's story 
I fell down and wept and cried 
For as yet I still was dreaming 
I hadn't really died. 

And I said: O angel tell the Lord 
That soon as I awake 
I'll live my life for Jesus-- 
I'll do all for His dear sake. 

I'll give in full surrender; 
I'll do all He wants me to; 
I'll turn my back on self and sin 
And whatever isn't true. 

And though the way seems long and rough 
I promise to endure. 
I'm determined to pursue the things 
That are holy, clean and pure. 

With Jesus as my helper, 
I will win lost souls to Thee, 
For I know that they will live with Christ 
For all eternity. 

And that's what really matters 
When my life on earth is gone 
That I will stand before the Lord 
And hear Him say, well done. 

For is it really worth it 
As my life lies at the brink? 
And I realize that God keeps books 
With His eternal ink. 

Should all my life be focused 
On things that turn to dust? 
From this point on I'll serve the Lord; 
I can, I will, I must! 

I will NOT send blank pages 
Up to God's majestic throne 
For where that record's going now 
Is my eternal home. 

I'm giving all to Jesus 
I now have seen the link 
For I saw an angel write my life 
With God's Eternal Ink. 

Author Unknown