Standing In The Dock

How shall we escape if we neglect so great a salvation?

Hebrews 2:3

Every day in courtrooms around the world, the tension is palpable as impartial juries deliver their verdicts. Lives hang in the balance, and ideally, justice is meted out swiftly and objectively.

Recently in a South Carolina murder trial, the defendant, hearing the guilty verdict, collapsed in the courtroom and had to be carried out by deputies. In a recent Missouri case, the defendant was declared innocent. Family members of the victim, feeling justice was denied them, screamed aloud and fell into each other’s arms like toppling dominoes.

Can you imagine the soul-crushing strain of standing before the Judge of the entire universe, awaiting the condemnation that will banish you swiftly and inexorably to hell? That will never be the Christian’s experience, for the blood of Christ saves us from having to stand before the Great White Throne of God. Jesus bore our sins, accepted our death, and issued His abundant pardon on Calvary’s cross. Today, praise God that His “so great a salvation” is for you and me and that there is no condemnation to those who are in Him!

Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah for the cross!

HORATIUS BONAR