FOR HIGHER REASONS
God must prove true, though every man be false; as the Scripture says, "That you may be shown to be upright in what you say, and win your case when you go into court." Rom. 3:4, Goodspeed.
A skilled attorney is preparing to plead a case on behalf of a defendant. He builds his case with great care, covering every possible area that the prosecution might try to use against his client. He anticipates every legal intricacy, every aspect of witness credibility, that could be brought up in court. He knows his opponent is a clever prosecutor, and he wants no surprises.
At last his client says, "That's enough! You've built a solid case for me; I'm sure the judge will rule in my favor." But his attorney knows that the best way to win the case is by careful attention to detail. Furthermore, he knows that this is a precedent-setting case. It will have impact on perhaps thousands of others. And so he continues with great thoroughness.
How narrow we often have been to assume that the issues in the heavenly judgment center only around ourselves. We have often forgotten that more is at stake in the divine proceedings than our own salvation. What is necessary to end the great controversy is far greater than what might be necessary for securing just my own salvation (though in the end they cannot be separated). The universe-wide problem of sin is rooted in Satan's accusations about the character of God; his challenges must be answered in such a way that--billions of years later--brilliant people will never challenge the verdict.
God's people share Paul's conviction that when the verdict comes in from the heavenly courtroom, God will be shown to have always spoken the truth. With great eagerness His people long for this to happen, for not only are they jealous for His reputation, but they also wish for the tragedy and pain to be over throughout the universe. This becomes such a driving motivation in their lives that it leads them to reflect His beauties to others, that they might choose Him.
Of this we can be sure: If God will be vindicated in every one of His actions and decisions, then His decision that I am in a saving relationship with Him will never be successfully challenged throughout eternity!
God must prove true, though every man be false; as the Scripture says, "That you may be shown to be upright in what you say, and win your case when you go into court." Rom. 3:4, Goodspeed.
A skilled attorney is preparing to plead a case on behalf of a defendant. He builds his case with great care, covering every possible area that the prosecution might try to use against his client. He anticipates every legal intricacy, every aspect of witness credibility, that could be brought up in court. He knows his opponent is a clever prosecutor, and he wants no surprises.
At last his client says, "That's enough! You've built a solid case for me; I'm sure the judge will rule in my favor." But his attorney knows that the best way to win the case is by careful attention to detail. Furthermore, he knows that this is a precedent-setting case. It will have impact on perhaps thousands of others. And so he continues with great thoroughness.
How narrow we often have been to assume that the issues in the heavenly judgment center only around ourselves. We have often forgotten that more is at stake in the divine proceedings than our own salvation. What is necessary to end the great controversy is far greater than what might be necessary for securing just my own salvation (though in the end they cannot be separated). The universe-wide problem of sin is rooted in Satan's accusations about the character of God; his challenges must be answered in such a way that--billions of years later--brilliant people will never challenge the verdict.
God's people share Paul's conviction that when the verdict comes in from the heavenly courtroom, God will be shown to have always spoken the truth. With great eagerness His people long for this to happen, for not only are they jealous for His reputation, but they also wish for the tragedy and pain to be over throughout the universe. This becomes such a driving motivation in their lives that it leads them to reflect His beauties to others, that they might choose Him.
Of this we can be sure: If God will be vindicated in every one of His actions and decisions, then His decision that I am in a saving relationship with Him will never be successfully challenged throughout eternity!
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