Plaintiff or Defendant?
“For this is My
blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.”
Matthew 26:28
Have you ever sat in a courtroom and watched an actual
trial? Listen to both sides of a story by counsel. If you have watched a trial
live in person did you take a few and watch the judge? He sits in a robe up
above everyone, and he has the fate of a person in the palm of his hands. If
the jury finds this person guilty by the evidence that is presented the judge
passes down the sentence. The jury sits to the side and they listen attentively
to the counsel’s pleas and take in account of all evidence that is presented.
One side defending the other accusing, now I ask have you all your life felt like
you are the Plaintiff the one that the crime was committed against with
friends, family, co-workers, your boss? Of course you have I know I have.
Always defending your case because you think you are in the right? Imagine your
life now as a courtroom your whole entire life you always feel like you are in
the middle of a trial. Okay, do you find yourself always accusing others and
blaming someone else for everything that is not right in your life? Welcome to
the human, but fallen race. So which are you the plaintiff or defendant? I can
hear some of you now pleading your case! But, but, but, Shannon you have no
idea what kind of day I have had. You are right I do not….but God does. And he
can tell you right now who you are, you my friend are the defendant every
single person on the face of this earth is the defendant.
OUCH! My exact words
when I came to this realization. How did I come to this “The Bible” when you
read the Old Testament you come to an understanding of who God is and his
character what is expected of you and the laws you have to abide by in order to
escape death. God knew that we did not stand a chance we were doomed. It is
evident by reading the work the Israelite's had to go through for the
forgiveness of sins. God is a holy God and there is no other way to come to him
except his way. His standards are so high he knew we were in trouble because we
are a fallen race it happened when Adam and Eve disobeyed God. We lost so much
on that day one of the saddest was we lost the right to be in God’s presence we
were no longer innocent. But no matter what they did God still loved them and
us. God wanted to be with his children, he had much work to do on down the road
and he was preparing that road. God’s preferred sacrifice was a lamb at the
tabernacle it was a shadow of what was to come which was Christ’s sacrifice.
John the Baptist said when he saw him at the Jordan River “Behold the lamb of
God” Before it was only for the Israelite's. What John was seeing that day was a
lamb for the entire world and every single human being and there sins. The day
that Jesus carried the cross he was taking our place in the court room before
the Judge over all humanity. He was taking the punishment that was meant for
us. Satan had no hold that day on Christ, he tried to get Christ to sway many
times but he went to the cross still with no sin against him.
Why? Because now we have a defense attorney! So if we are
in need of this …ALL souls for all eternity why in the world do we think we are
plaintiffs? Because whether we want to face it or not we sin and there is no
justification for it in the eyes of a holy God. This is why Christ came; God is
the perfect, holy being, the divine we are not.
Therefore if we were going to be saved we needed someone
to come and do it for us. Okay now we have an understanding why God sent his
only son so let’s head back to the court room, imagine yourself in the
courtroom, now that you accept the fact that you are the defendant you are now
in the defendant’s chair. God is on the throne and in walks the plaintiff’s
counsel. He has everything you have ever done wrong and he has checked this
list more than once, he loves to remind you of all the mistakes you have made
in your life and all that is not right in the eyes of God. Who is this person
that is against you? We all imagine Satan with red skin, horns, hooves for
feet, and a pitch fork. What would you think if I told you someone close to you
came into this court room and named off all the things to God that you have
ever done and states you deserve to be punished? Would you be surprised? I have
learned that there are people that are demon possessed and demon oppressed.
This means that Satan even works through others to condemn you and to tear
families and people apart. And when you step out of God’s will you will be
vulnerable to Satan and he will take any crack door he can. So it is imperative
that we understand who we are, what we are, and why we are saved. It is not by
our own doings, not by how many times we appear in church this year, not how many
times we feed the poor, not how many times we fall to our knees, there is NOTHING
„WE‟ can do to get into heaven. You see God loved us before we ever loved him.
God loves us no matter which side of the tracks we are on. He loves the murder
that repents just as much as he loves you that told a lie today and repented
for it.
So here you are….in the court room….this person walks in
boastful and ready to place the blame ready to hear the almighty fix you and
fix you good. This is Satan he comes in many forms to attack you just as God
works through people so does Satan. The difference in today and the Old
Testament is God changed the scene of the court room; it is no longer like the
laws of the land oh do not get me wrong God’s laws are still the same. But someone
has taken the punishment for you already; someone is standing in your place.
Boy does that infuriate Satan because he does not want you to know that and he
does not want you to understand or believe in it. That is right Jesus Christ is
right there beside you ready to defend you he is there on your behalf.
Understand he cannot defend you until you accept who he is and what he did for
you on the cross. You have to accept him as Lord over your life. Once you grasp
that there is NOTHING anyone can do to you. As Satan tries to place the blame,
accuse, try and remind you of the past and what you have done. Jesus stands
firm his blood has blotted out the crimes you have committed against God. Jesus
Christ is our mediator, defender, and savior. What was done to him was meant
for us and so once we accept Christ and the cross we are set free. Only through
Christ can we enter into the kingdom of God. What a gift of love…pure honest
love.
So the next time you find yourself complaining about
others, and all that we see wrong, what we need to do instead is remember we
are not the plaintiffs in the courtroom we are the defendants. Remember the
fruits of the spirit and what we are supposed to do (Galatians 5: 22-23) we are
to show the same grace and compassion that was shown to us. Let’s all take the
time and repent for our sins let Jesus fix what is wrong with ourselves first.
There are no two ways about it the fact is we are human we are quick to judge
others and this is not our job this is God’s job. Therefore, the next time you
find yourself acting out as a plaintiff remember in God’s courtroom who tries
to claim that title and ask yourself are you acting as a child of God or are
you taking on the characteristics of Satan? Think about whose will you are
doing.
I will ask again which are you plaintiff or defendant?
© Shannon Wendler