This week I read about the last roll of dice in the Bible.

Some people have a real problem with this “casting of lots” our forefathers did in Bible times. I don’t want to minimize the problem of modern-day gambling. It can wreck lives, tear up families, and get people killed. But back in the day, God often talked to people with some form of dice-rolling. Eventually, the Holy Spirit exploded into the world, and all God’s children suddenly had Face Time. Or, whatever.

Anyway, the last recorded roll of the dice was done by the Disciples-turned-Apostles to pick a replacement for Judas. We aren’t sure why they felt the need to replace him. Scholars have several views which all relate to Jewish customs, laws, and traditions involving a specific number of people required for certain transactions.

When the guys got together to sort this out, they came up with two names: Matthias and Joseph called Barsabbas (who was also called Justus). The lot fell to Matthias. He was welcomed into the Circle of The Twelve and probably went on to do great feats even though they aren’t recorded in the Bible. And even though many scholars think Paul was the twelfth man and the apostles got ahead of the Holy Spirit. But that is not today’s story.

Today’s story is this: Whatever happened to Joseph/Barsabbas/Justus? Well, I’ll tell you what I hope. I hope he went right on doing exactly what had gotten him chosen for the lottery in the first place. I hope he loved Jesus. And served the needy. I hope he prayed for the sick, worshipped in the Temple, paid his alms, and maybe even raised the dead a time or two.

Because Joseph/Barsabbas/Justus reminds me that getting my name on the Bestseller List (or the corner office)  is not the Main Thing in life.

The Main Thing is to love Jesus. Because the only place my name really needs to be written is in His Book of Life.