After living what he felt was a 'decent' life, his time on earth came to the end. He found himself sitting on a bench in the waiting room of a court house.
The doors opened and he was instructed to come in and have a seat by the defense table.
As he looked around he saw the Prosecutor, who was a villainous looking figure who glared at him.
He looked to the other side and there sat the defense Attorney, a kind and gentle-looking man whose appearance seemed familiar, somehow he felt he knew him.
The courtroom door flew open and there appeared the Judge in full flowing robes. He commanded an awesome presence. As he moved across the room the defendant shuddered.
The Judge took his seat behind the bench and said, 'Let us begin.'
The Prosecutor rose and said, 'My name is Satan and I am here to show you why this person belongs in hell.' He proceeded to tell of the multitude of lies that had been told, things that the man had stolen, times he had cheated others. Satan told of the man's horrible perversions and the more he spoke, the further down in his seat the defendant sank. He was so embarrassed that he couldn't look at anyone, not even at his own Attorney, and just trembled as the Devil told of sins that the defendant had even completely forgotten about.
As upset as he was at Satan for telling all these things about him, he was equally upset at his Attorney who sat there silently not offering any objection or any form of defense at all. He knew he was guilty of those things, but he had done some good in his life too - couldn't that at least equal out part of the harm he'd done? No, he realized, not now. Not here.
Satan finished with a fury and said, 'This person must be sentenced to hell. He is guilty of all that I have charged and there is not a person who can prove otherwise.'
When it was his turn, the defense Attorney first asked if he might approach the bench. The Judge allowed this over the strong objections of Satan, and beckoned the Attorney to come forward.
As he got up and started walking, the defendant was able to see him in his full splendor and majesty. Then he suddenly realized why he seemed so familiar - this was Jesus Christ representing him, his Lord and his Savior!!!
The Attorney stopped at the bench and softly said to the Judge, 'Father,' and then he turned to address the court.
'Satan was correct in saying that the defendant has sinned, I won't deny any of the allegations. And, yes, the wages of sin is death, and this person deserves the death penalty.'
Jesus took a deep breath and turned to his Father with outstretched arms and proclaimed, "However, I died on the cross in his place so that he might have eternal life. I received in myself on the Cross all the judgment due him. He has accepted me as his Savior, so he is mine." He continued, "his name is written in the Book of Life, and no one can snatch him from me."
Jesus sat down, he quietly paused, looked at his Father and said, 'There is nothing else that needs to be done. I've done it all.'
The Judge lifted his mighty hand and slammed the gavel down. The following words bellowed from his lips...
'The defendant is free. The penalty for his sins has been paid in full. Case dismissed.'
As the Lord led the defendant away, he could hear Satan screaming, 'I won't give up, I will win the next one!'
The defendant asked Jesus, 'Have you ever lost a case?'
Christ lovingly smiled and said, 'Everyone who has come to me and asked me to represent him has received the same verdict as you:
Paid In Full.
-Anonymous
“And he said to me,
‘You are my servant, O Israel,
in whom I will be glorified.’"
Isaiah 49:3
The Scriptures are the complete revelation from God to mankind. The Bible is filled with stories demonstrating the nature of God to man. Israel is one of those stories.
In order to make it very clear that God is revealing himself through his dealings with Israel, he shows that Israel is not worthy of his blessings, but that God fulfills his Word even when they are unfaithful, BECAUSE of the promise of his covenant with them. The focus is not on Israel, the focus is the faithfulness of God. That's why he has brought them back to the land of their fathers - in unbelief - to show that the point is his faithfulness, NOT their worthiness.
God said that he exalts his WORD above even his Name (Psalm 138:2) and in Israel he demonstrates his faithfulness to the promises made to them.
Israel rebelled against God and judgment came as they had been forewarned. Of the first judgment, God foretold that unfaithful Israel would go into captivity for a period of 70 years and afterwards Israel would be restored. It happened exactly as he said. Then later, when Israel rebelled against him again, he foretold that if they would not repent, they would go into a very lengthy captivity. That second captivity began in the year 70 AD and lasted until now. Now, in our generation, he is once again bringing them back from all the countries where they were banished to - he's bringing them back to the land of their fathers as he promised, and he is restoring and building up the nation with promises of future glory under their Messiah. The Messiah will come during this restoration and will set up his Kingdom to rule over all the world, and he will exalt the nation of Israel above all the nations of the earth ...because he promised to do so.
But ...and this is huge…
But right now Israel for the most part, remains in unbelief, still denying the Messiah who came in their day and was rejected.
The very important point in all this is that God does things in such a way as to demonstrate that his faithfulness to his Word is not dependent upon man's faithfulness. Once God has said something is going to be, it's going to be. And it's going to take place in such a way that there will be no question as to the unworthiness of the recipient of the blessing.
"Therefore say to the house of Israel,
‘Thus says the Lord God:
I do not do this for your sake, O house of Israel,
BUT FOR MY HOLY NAME'S SAKE...'"
Ezekiel 36:22
vs 23-24:
"'...and the nations shall know that I am the Lord,'
says the Lord God,
'when I am hallowed in you before their eyes.
For I will take you from among the nations,
gather you out of all countries,
and bring you into your own land.'"
Ezekiel 36:22-24
And that's exactly what he has done - in our generation, right before our very eyes.
God does not ever, ever, forget his Word or the promises he has made, even when years have passed and it seems to be impossible. This is the most glorious generation since the resurrection of Jesus Christ - the generation that is witnessing Bible prophecy being fulfilled. God re-established Israel as a nation in May of 1948, and since then he has been building the nation and prospering it right before our eyes, the fulfillment of his long-ago promise which he has not forgotten. The fact that he is doing so independent of their unfaithfulness or unworthiness is the demonstration of his veneration of his Word and the vindication of his promise even though they don't believe. Oh but they will!
Friends, God is faithful. When he has made a promise, nothing and no one can prevent it even if a long time ensues before it happens. His Word is absolutely true and faithful. You can depend on it. If God has promised you something, do not lose hope, it will come - and God will be glorified when he brings about what he has promised. It will end up in a testimony that will glorify God before all.
More:
God's Covenant With Israel
“The wicked man does deceptive work,
but he who sows righteousness will have a sure reward.”
Proverbs 11:18
If you desire success, pay attention to the ways God has established for you to reach it. It won't be through the ways of the world. The way of the world is through deceit.
What a man does to achieve his goals is often reached through careful plotting or through deals done behind the scenes. He may try to cover his tracks being careful to get away with what he does. Oftentimes he works through evil craftiness to obtain what he thinks will bring him to what his heart desires. The wicked man operates through deception.
The believer however, lives life a totally different way because he knows that the wisdom of the world is “foolishness” in God’s eyes (1st Corinthians 3:19). The believer searches the Scriptures daily seeking to understand the ways of God. He is content with whatever the Lord provides for him whether it be much or little. He doesn’t shirk his responsibility, no, but all he does, he does in integrity, and he receives the blessing of the Lord. He sows only righteousness, and God guarantees he will have a sure reward. Such a man will be free from all the anxiety that goes along with wickedness and he will have peace of heart.
The way a man approaches wealth reveals his relationship with God. The carnal man doesn’t even think of God, he places all his trust in what he can do himself. The believer, on the other hand, isn’t obsessed with acquiring wealth, his desire is to serve the Lord with all the ability that he has. His top priority is to use what he has been endowed with to serve the purposes of God; his mind is consumed with the cares of his God, of reaching others and drawing them to the Lord. He cares for the things that are ETERNAL. Without having spent his energies on acquiring wealth, all the needs of the believer are provided for him.
“Therefore do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’
or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’
For after all these things the Gentiles seek.
For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things.
BUT SEEK FIRST THE KINGDOM OF GOD AND HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS,
AND ALL THESE THINGS SHALL BE ADDED TO YOU.”
Matthew 6:31-33
Alliances which the wicked makes will only lead him to reaping the corruption that he has sowed. But the believer will be sustained by the Lord, and even his children will be blessed.
“Though hand join in hand, the wicked shall not be unpunished,
but the posterity of the righteous shall be delivered.”
Proverbs 11:21
Be careful in choosing the way you will go. One path leads to eventual failure, the other to eternal reward. This is the way the Lord has set it up, and it's an unchanging principle of his Kingdom.
Examine your motives and adjust them if necessary. Never lose sight of your calling, your purpose. Keep your eyes on the prize!
“No one can serve two masters;
for either he will hate the one and love the other,
or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other.
You cannot serve God and mammon.”
Matthew 6:24