Have you ever been in a courtroom at the time of sentencing? It’s tense. If the hearing or trial is between two parties, more than likely, one party will be happy with the verdict; one party will not.
Back in the late 80’s I would find myself in a courtroom with my husband. A local business had taken us to Small Claims Court. I was on pins and needles. I knew we were in the right, but would the judge see it that way?
The owner of the business spoke and then his manager spoke. Then we spoke and then the judge spoke.
I waited, no doubt holding my breath, for the outcome. And then, the judge ruled, in our favor. That is a great feeling!
Two years later a landlady and her son would accuse us of causing damage to the home we had moved out of. Once again I found ourselves in front of a mediator. We all presented our side of the story. I, complete with witnesses, detailed lists, receipts, and pictures; they, with made up, exaggerated accusations.
I knew they were not telling the truth about us, but would the judge believe it? He did and ruled in our favor. That was such a relief!
In both cases, we had a very fair, and honest judge. Both men were intelligent enough to know they were being lied to. But justice isn’t always met with fairness.
There are many people that stand in many courts of law that do not see a fair and favorable outcome. According to the Georgia Innocence Project, studies estimate that between 4-6% of people incarcerated in US prisons are actually innocent. If 5% of individuals are actually innocent, that means 1 out of 20 criminal cases result in a wrongful conviction. Our courts are not always fair. Judges and lawyers are not always honest. We can hope for a fair trial, but it is not guaranteed.
There are also many more people who have never seen the inside of a courtroom and that’s a good thing, but there is a day coming...
We are told of a court date that none of us will be able to escape. Every single human being will be brought before the judge.
The charge is the same for each person: “Sinner”. Why is that an issue?
Because sinners cannot occupy heaven. Sin cannot exist in the presence of a perfect Being. That’s going to be a problem for us!
Isaiah wrote in chapter 59 that our sins have hidden His face from us. And Habakkuk 1:13 says, “You are of purer eyes than to behold evil, and cannot look on wickedness…” NKJV
And Paul wrote, “Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God.” 1 Corinthians 6:9-10 NKJV
There is a judgement coming.
“Then I saw a great white throne and Him who sat on it…And I saw the dead, small and great, standing before God, and books were opened. And another book was opened, which is the Book of Life. And the dead were judged according to their works, by the things which were written in the books.” Revelation 20:11-12 NKJV
I am on trial, and this is the courtroom scene to end all courtroom scenes, literally.
I am seated in that courtroom. I am the defendant. My attorney is Jesus the Christ.
At the table to my right sits Satan; he is the plaintiff, and he is the one bringing the charges against me.
He rises and begins to speak with great eloquence. He tells in detail of the time I shoplifted as a young teen; the times I lied; the times I coveted; the times I cheated. He shows my addictions and anger and resentment. He relishes the part where I slipped and fell over and over again. He paints a very poor picture of me. The tragic thing is, he is right.
Satan speaks with persuasiveness as he tells of all the times I came to God with a repentant heart, just to return to my old ways. He points at me and argues that I am his and by my very actions I have proven it!
Then Jesus rises. He begins to speak in a soft, gentle, yet confident voice.
As my advocate, He tells in great detail of the time He and His father planned for the eventuality of sin and my eventual role in it.
He tells of the time He left heaven and was born a fragile, infant to a very young mother. How He walked this earth trying to reach as many people as possible with the truth that is The Godhead’s Love.
He tells of the time He hung on the cross and thought of me; His sins covering mine and yours. The time He rose from the grave, conquering death, and eventually returning to His Father and to His rightful place at His side in Heaven.
He then rests His case, but instead of taking a seat next to me at the table, He walks toward the bench. And instead of asking for permission to approach, He walks behind the bench. He takes the two steps up to the bench, puts on the robe of the judge, takes His seat and then pointing at the scars on His wrists and ankles, the scars on His brow, He rules on my behalf! He rules in my favor!
Is that a fair trial? Not even close! And I’m so thankful to have Jesus as my advocate.
The very one defending you and me in court, will be the very one that will rule on our behalf, if that is what we desire. It is a choice. We have to want Him.
An advocate, in earthly terms, is a person who helps in court; speaks for us if needed; perhaps pleads our case for us. They offer support. Foster Children will be given a CASA; a Court Appointed Special Advocate. That person will visit the child in the foster home and appear at all court hearings.
And even today we have an advocate. The Bible tells us in 1 John that Jesus is our advocate: “…I write to you, so that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous.” 1 John 2:1 NKJV
God’s desire for us is that we do not sin, but if we do, and when we do, we have an advocate: Jesus Christ; The Word; the Son of God.
by Jeanette Stark – Wednesday, May 17, 2023
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