Just when the household was really getting settled in for the evening, a knock on the door would put an irritating pause on our hallowed festivities. Weeknight television and communal sleeves of Ritz crackers with Cheese Whiz was “how we rolled” on a Thursday night. As our front door opened, my father’s shoulders would drop a little and a short sigh would follow. He knew this routine.

A fledgling voice would begin the dialogue we all became very familiar with, there on 801 S. E. 8th.

“Hello Sir, um… if you were to die tonight, would you be 100% positive that you would go to Heaven?”

Mother would roll her eyes, smile, and sit quietly. Us kids would gather around the door to watch this play out.

Littered across our lawn was a troop of pre-teens, all with little books and scorecards to keep tally of their converts. Most were strewn about the grass, some were on the porch; but there was always one brave “warrior” to lead the charge, paperwork in hand to be filled out by the resident.

My father was used to this because it happened often, and usually right in the middle of the unfolding plot twist of one of his favorite tv programs, the Rockford Files.

“No.” was always his answer. He would turn back toward his program, that he had earned from a long day of hanging sheetrock, and start to gently, but unapologetically, shut the door.

Many times this was the sum of it. Not much excitement. Back to Rockford. But more than once, a persistent youth, a real “go getter”, would manage to delay him with another question.

“Well Sir, if you were standing at the pearly gates and Saint Peter asked you if you are worthy to enter the Kingdom of Heaven, what would you say?” Without skipping a beat my father would reply, “Talk to my attorney.”

The band of brothers would halt from their horseplay in the yard. The juveniles on the steps would look at each other in confusion. The smirk would start to dissipate from the precocious leader, who would then say, “I don’t know what you mean. Could you repeat that?”

This was our favorite part. If our valued family time was to be interrupted, at least we were gonna get a show.

My dad would straighten up his tired back, open the door wide, and give a confident, sincere, proclamation to the entire neighborhood, “I would say…talk-to-my-attorney!”

You will have to give my father a little grace here for his inhospitable way, of an evening, as it makes for a great story. Even though my dad failed at giving a two hour dissertation on what in the world he could be talking about, I can’t help but hope that maybe one kid did some thinking as he walked away from 801.

My father was a minister for nearly thirty years. He loved courtroom television as much as he loved courtroom language from the apostle Paul. It could be better said that he loved courtroom television because he loved courtroom language from the apostle Paul. He grabbed ahold of this word – advocate – early on in his Christian life, and did not let go.

There are beautiful and truthful ways our Lord is described; He is our bridegroom, our brother, and our friend. But as you wonder where you stand with God Almighty, late at night as you lay your head on your pillow, the legal language provided in scripture is vital.

Over and over we are crushed from guilt of sin, but scripture strengthens our hope and mends our wounded conscience. “And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous.” (1 John 2:1) So much is supposed in this verse. First, it is supposed that Christians sin. Second, it is supposed that there is a judge and an accuser, otherwise we would not need an advocate. With these suppositions, how detrimentally foolish it would be for us to go before this bar ourselves – plead our own case, with our own arguments. No, we need an advocate. We can also conclude that much reminding of this truth is needed, as we live, and continue to sin.

We have been put into a new realm where salvation and blessings come to us by grace. But this is not just because God is a super nice God and wants to be gracious out of the kindness of His heart. No, it is more legal than that. God is justified in granting us access, providing all spiritual blessings, giving us eternal life, and proclaiming us joint-heirs with His Son, on the basis of the propitiation.

Christ is our “attorney”, pleading our case, advocating for us, saying, “These ones are paid for. My blood covered all of their sins; they are flawless. Your wrath, Lord, would not be justified on these. I am pleading my blood for these precious ones, the ones you have given me.”

It is a glorious concept that Jesus is our attorney, making a case for us, and the evidence He will use to plead our case is Himself. His very own blood is the propitiation that stays God’s wrath.

If speculations of some are correct – Saint Peter literally standing at the pearly gates, asking us, “What gives you the right? Are you worthy to enter?”, then we can continue in our thoughts and say to Peter, with confidence, “My big brother said I could come.”

If the courtroom scene set up in scripture is closer to the actual reality when we meet our maker, no need to fear. Perhaps think on these great words of John Bunyan:

“…for believing daunts the devil, pleaseth Christ, and will help thee beforehand to sing that song of the church, saying, ‘Oh Lord, thou hast pleaded the causes of my soul; thou hast redeemed my life’”

On this we can finish out the scene in our minds. We can trust that we will be welcomed into the kingdom of His dear Son, with open, loving arms – as ones who are not guilty, ones who are holy, blameless, and beyond reproach.

Supporting Verses:

1 John 2:1, 1Timothy 2:5, Hebrews 7:23-25, Hebrews 9:15, 2 Corinthians 5:21, Galatians 2:16-21, Galatians 4:7, Ecclesiastes 7:20, Job 16:19, Isiah 51:22, Romans 3:21, John 17:24, Romans 8:33, Romans 9:11

For Further Reading:

The Works of Jesus Christ as an Advocate, by John Bunyan

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