Scripture:Jesus said, “I will ask the
Father, and he will give you another Counselor (Paraclete) to be with
you forever - The Spirit of Truth.”
John 14:16, NIV
The Book of Job begins with a depiction of
a heavenly gathering of angels before the Lord, and Satan “also came with
them” (Job 1:6). I note that the literal translation of the Hebrew
word used here for Satan means “accuser.”
I quickly slide off into a daydream; I envision a heavenly
court, not unlike a Perry Mason script, where the Prosecuting Attorney
is Satan, “The Accuser.” God is on the High Bench, of course, and the Defense
is in good hands, being the Paraclete, the Counselor of John
14:16,
I am not an observer from a back corner of the courtroom,
however. I find myself in the witness chair, front and center, the subject
of this trial, the Defendant!
The Prosecution begins by opening a large ledger, and
my heart shrinks within me. Satan maintains not only a very sharp pencil,
but has kept a scrupulous and thorough accounting. I think of the words
of the Prophet Isaiah, when he saw a vision of the Lord, high and
exulted: “Woe to me,” Isaiah cried, “I am ruined, for I am a man of unclean
lips.” (Isaiah 6:5).
Satan begins. They are all listed there, sins of omission,
as well as sins of commission. The gross as well as the petty, laid out
for all to see. Am I to be like the wicked of the First Psalm, as “chaff
that the wind blows away?” Satan is skilled, and cunning. He has well earned
the title of “The Accuser.”
As a glowering “Accuser” completes
the presentation of his case, he closes his ledger with a sharp “Thunk”
of finality.
In despair, I realize that I can do nothing but throw
myself upon the mercy of the court. I am reminded that the prosecution
is only half of a trial, however. The Defense, the “One who Walks Alongside,”
begins. He, too, opens a ledger. All in the court, including Satan, strains
to see what is written there. It is a list of names; the Counselor runs
his finger swiftly down the page, stopping at a name, and looking up at
the bench, proclaims, “I present to the Court, that the defendant's name
is written here, in the Book of Life.”
Heads nod. Satan scowls, and rises to object.
“Your Honor, it is apparent the defense
is ignoring the facts.”
The objection is denied. The Counselor asks that the
defendant step down for the moment, and asks to present evidence that all
of Satan’s accusations are null and void, because they have been purged from
the Heavenly record. Again Satan rises. “I object, Your Honor. My records
are complete, and factual. Surely the defendant must be found guilty.
Justice must prevail.” Again, the objection is denied.
The Counselor calls another witness. “Please tell the
court”, he asks, “ why the defendant should not be found guilty in this
case.”
“Because I have already paid whatever penalty is due
to this defendant,” states the witness. “How can that be?” sputters
Satan. “Can sin be forgiven?”
“Yes,” Jesus replies. “Though sins be as scarlet, they shall become as white
as wool, and the one who believes in Me shall not perish, but have everlasting
life. While he was yet a sinner, I died for him.”
Stretching forth His hands, He holds them up for all to see.
Thomas, one of the Apostles, sitting
to one side, nods, and smiles.
I can but only acknowledge, “My Lord, and My God.”
Well, it is only a dream, isn’t
it?
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