Thursday, October 10, 2013

My Advocate

Matt 12:36-7, "But I say to you that for every idle word men may speak, they will give account of it in the Day of Judgment. For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.”

 
There is an accounting we must give.  It is a spoken defense of all we have done, said, and even our thoughts are subject to this judgment. 
What will we say?

What will I say?  I have no excuse.  Nothing I could or would say will be adequate. For there is none righteous, not one.  (Romans 3:10-13) My very throat is an open grave and very truly my words will be justification or condemnation, life or death to me.  (Psalm 14)
What will I say?  If I begin looking for an out -- there is no out, for God sees the very heart.  I cannot lie, perjure, or excuse any one action in my life.  I will fail if I seek to defend myself - and not due to a lack of courtroom procedural knowledge.  I will fail the test itself.  My very defense condemns me!

In football some say the best defense is a good offense... but can I come out stronger or more righteous than God Himself?!  Even to think the thought is frightening!
What I need is a legal advocate who will remove my wicked deeds from the courts record.  One who will speak in my behalf, not to hide those deeds, for nothing is hid before God (Heb. 4:13), but that the deeds be expunged from my record and yet justly accounted for...

And my advocate must be as righteous as God Himself, so that he has opportunity to present my case before Him - for every wicked mouth will be stopped. (Rom 3:19)  Like a sword his words must present a case before the judge in such a manner that the Judge will not only be convinced, but even pleased to release me.  (Heb. 4:12 & Rev. 1:16)
What about the jury?  No need of one - for such is the manufacture of men for judicial systems which are not perfect and which may at times find crimes which are no crimes or laws which are not righteous.  Yet in the Holy economy of God- this courtroom Judge, and law is established and absolutely sound.  There are no moral flaws to be found. (Psalm 89:14 & 97:2)

It really is only a matter of the record of actions which I have done, balanced not, as so popularly presented, against the better actions I have done (for indeed - the truth be known, I have done no purely good actions anyway!),  But my infractions are evaluated against the law itself.  It is only a matter of the law being upheld - For God is just.  A proverb comes to mind here, "He who justifies the wicked, and he who condemns the just, both of them alike are an abomination to the Lord." (Pro 17:15) 
My only hope is to fall on the mercy of the Judge if He is pleased to hear my case - for I am guilty.  But my advocate has found a way.  He will take the penalty himself, as he needs not pay on his own behalf, and His holiness is such that it can cover a multitude of sins.

My friend, have you a multitude of sins which must be accounted for?  Do not hide them, and try the courts patience in your stammering empty defense.  Try my advocate, Jesus Christ the Righteous.  You will not be disappointed!

"But to him who does not work but believes on Him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is accounted for righteousness, just as David also describes the blessedness of the man to whom God imputes righteousness apart from works: “Blessed are those whose lawless deeds are forgiven, And whose sins are covered; Blessed is the man to whom the Lord shall not impute sin."
(Romans 4:5-8 & Psalm 32:1-2)