When Heaven Takes Your Case

Well, land sakes alive, friend, unlatch that ol’ screen door and come right up over here and park yourself on this ol’ front porch before your worries start multiplyin’ like lil ol’ rabbits behind the smokehouse. Some days our mistakes plum follow us around like an ol’ rooster that discovered his reflection in a pie tin and decided he’s done found himself somebody to argue with. Guilt can git to squawkin’ mighty loud. But Heaven has better news than the loud racket bouncin’ around in our heads.

John writes, “If any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous” (1 John 2:1). Notice he don’t say we once had an Advocate until we stumbled. He says we downright have one. Right now. In the very moment we need Him.

That sho’-nuff’ reaches deeper when we hear Hebrews 7:25 say, “Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them.” Wow! We are being promised that Jesus “ever lives to make intercession” for us. Christ isn’t occasionally interested in our case. He is downright continually representin’ those that come to God through Him. Our hope don’t rest on our ability to explain ourselves well. It rests on the One whose righteousness speaks for us.

Even Job sho’-nuff’ caught a glimpse of this truth when he declared, “Behold, my witness is in Heaven, and my record is on high” (Job 16:19). Friend, when your conscience gits to hollerin’ louder than a lil’ ol’ guinea hen under the porch, remember that your Witness is plum already in Heaven.

Jesus is our Advocate because He is righteous. He don’t pretend sin don’t matter. He downright answered its charge at the cross. His righteousness becomes the believer’s plea, and His finished work is stronger than every accusation.

Father, thank You that when I fail, Jesus remains my righteous Advocate. Keep me from hiding in shame when You invite me to come near in repentance and faith. Help me trust Christ’s finished work more than the accusations of my own heart. Teach me to live gratefully and obediently because my hope rests completely in Him. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Alright now, friend, straighten that ol’ porch cushion and go right on out there to meet this day without draggin’ yesterday behind you like a tin bucket tied to an ol’ onery mule. Confess what needs confessin’, receive the grace Christ has purchased, and keep right on walkin’. Your failures may sho’-nuff’ have a voice, but they plum don’t get the final word. Jesus does, and Heaven ain’t never lost a case He took in hand.

With joy,

Gwen