My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. ~1 John 2:1
I don’t know about you, but I have come to love the truth revealed in this verse and to take great comfort in knowing Jesus is an ongoing advocate before the Father on my behalf. Over the course of my years I have been in trouble for various things and have been called before someone to give an account of my wrongdoing. I cannot think of a more fearful and horrific thing than to stand before God and give an account of my sin… alone.
It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God. ~Hebrews 10:31
Think of it, this very day there are people who will be called before the Almighty to give an account for their sin. I cannot even begin to describe the bone-numbing fear I would feel, if I had to stand before God as the books were opened and my violations of His Holy Law were read off. Oh, the depths of disgrace and shame one would feel at having their inner most secrets revealed and judged in the presence of God and His angels! For those who must stand before God alone and without an Advocate, it will indeed be a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.
Then the kings of the earth and the great ones and the generals and the rich and the powerful, and everyone, slave and free, hid themselves in the caves and among the rocks of the mountains, calling to the mountains and rocks, “Fall on us and hide us from the face of him who is seated on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb, for the great day of their wrath has come, and who can stand?” ~Revelation 6:15-17
When the day of wrath comes and God shakes this old world one last time, humanity will no longer be able to hide from Him. Those who do not have the Advocate Jesus Christ to stand with them will be facing God’s judgment alone. In one last desperate attempt, man will cry out for the mountains and rocks to fall on them and hide them from God. Regardless of hiding beneath mountains and rocks or behind trees and fig leaves, God will judge sin.
And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Then another book was opened, which is the book of life. And the dead were judged by what was written in the books, according to what they had done. ~Revelation 20:12
This past Sunday, Pastor described the scene as a courtroom where the accused stands before his or her accuser and the Judge. Some will be without an Advocate and others, who have trusted Jesus as their Lord and Savior will have the Advocate of the ages to speak on their behalf.
So everyone who acknowledges me before men, I also will acknowledge before my Father who is in heaven, but whoever denies me before men, I also will deny before my Father who is in heaven. ~Matthew 10:32,33