Your Case is in Good Hands

By Justin Pratt,

Clear Springs Baptist Church Senior Pastor

As humans living on the planet we call Earth, we are fully aware that there are diverse beliefs, convictions and worldviews. If we are not careful, it’s easy to slip into two extremes: We either water down the truth so we don’t offend, or we swing to a harshness in the name of being bold about our personal beliefs. I am of the persuasion that Jesus calls us to something different. As followers of Christ, we are commanded to hold fast to the truth while treating people, even those who disagree with us, with respect, gentleness and love.

The Bible, as the sole authority of faith and practice in Christianity, teaches us that although not everyone is a child of God, all people are created in His image and form part of His creation. The gospel we share is best received when communicated with both conviction and compassion. How we treat those who hold different beliefs reflects our faith just as much as the words we express. Everything I say comes from a deep sense of love and respect.

Around the world, countless religions exist, each providing its own set of rules, rituals and paths to the divine. Most share a common theme: they explain what we must do to earn God’s favor or achieve the peace that everyone seeks. However, Christianity is different; our faith stands apart from all others. At the heart of the gospel, we don’t have a ladder to climb, as other religions suggest, but rather a Savior who came down to us. While every other religion tells us to “do more, try harder and work your way up,” Christianity proclaims, “It is finished.”

What makes our faith unique is not our efforts, but Christ’s completed work on the cross, His resurrection and His ongoing presence with us today. The resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead is not just an accessory to Christianity; it is the defining feature that grants us the unique privilege of walking daily with a living Savior.

The writer of Hebrews emphasizes an important truth of the Christian faith in two instances within just three brief chapters. Hebrews 4 and Hebrews 7 both discuss the concept of advocacy through a post-resurrection Jesus for His followers. A reading of these chapters reveals that our Redeemer is a sinless, empathetic, sustaining, and ever-present Savior who continues to work on behalf of those who place their faith in Him. Hebrews 9 states that Jesus “appears in the presence of God for us.” This means that on our behalf, Jesus acts as our defender, interceder, and representative. This profound theological concept offers us specific practical realities that both encourage and strengthen our faith.

First, it means that as Christian believers, we have direct access to God through Jesus. We don’t have to rely on a religious system, tradition, a priest, a preacher, or anything else to be granted admittance to our Heavenly Father.

One historical story illustrates this beautifully: young Tad Lincoln once brought a weary Union soldier straight into the White House and into the presence of President Abraham Lincoln. Although the soldier had no authority or right to demand an audience with the president, he was welcomed because he came with the president’s son. That simple moment powerfully illustrates our access to God. On our own, we have no right to approach the throne of heaven, but through a living Jesus, the Son, we are brought near and welcomed into the very presence of the Father. It is through Christ alone that we have access to God.

Secondly, this means we have a diligent advocate. The Hebrew writer teaches us that we can obtain mercy and find grace in this throne room. Mercy is God withholding what we deserve, while grace is God giving us what we don’t deserve. Mercy is essential because we are all sinners, and grace is necessary because we all experience suffering. Christians have every reason to count their blessings, for unlike any other faith in the world, we do not follow a dead prophet or distant teacher; we have a relationship with a living Savior. Jesus not only conquered the grave but now stands at the right hand of the Father, acting as our Advocate. While others are left to plead their own cases, we can rest assured that Christ Himself speaks on our behalf. Your case is in good hands!