IS THERE A COURT IN HEAVEN?
The roles of God
In our adult lives, we can fulfill multiple roles: we can be a spouse, a father or mother to our children, someone's friend, a sports coach in our leisure, and we also fulfill a certain function/role at work.
It is the same with God (we are created in His image!). We often know God in the role of Father, some know Him more intimately in the role of Friend, as Abraham knew God.
But throughout the Bible, we also encounter God as Judge. Sometimes that role evokes fear of judgment in people. But that is because they do not really understand that God's role as Judge is meant to bless us:
- To free us from our sins:
Come now, let us reason (have a legal dispute) together, says the Lord. Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they shall be like wool. (Isaiah 1:18)
You see that the court cases God brings against His people in the Old Testament always have the goal of bringing the people back to the right path. He always desires to acquit them after they confess their sins.
- To conduct our court case when there is injustice:
For You have upheld my right and my cause; You have sat on your throne, judging righteously. (Ps. 9:4)
You may be thinking, “Yes, but these are texts from the Old Testament.” That is correct, but we also encounter God in His role as Judge in the New Testament.
God as Judge on Mount Zion
One of these texts is found in the book of Hebrews:
But you have come to Mount Zion, to the heavenly Jerusalem, the city of the living God. You have come to thousands upon thousands of angels in joyful assembly, to the church of the firstborn, whose names are written in heaven. You have come to God, the Judge of all men, to the spirits of the righteous men made perfect, to Jesus the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood that speaks a better word than the blood of Abel. (Hebrews 12:22-24)
A number of things stand out in this passage from the Bible:
- We have access to a heavenly place called Mount Zion.
- God is seated as Judge in this place.
- Jesus is present there as Mediator.
- But the blood of Jesus is also present because it has a voice that is more powerful than the voice of sin.
The courtroom of heaven
Apparently, there is a courtroom in heaven where we are allowed to enter. What could we do there? God invites us to bring our case before Him (Isaiah 1:18). Why would He want that? Because His kingdom (His reign) cannot exist without justice and righteousness:
Righteousness and justice are the foundation of Your throne (Ps. 89:14).
God wants righteousness from us toward Him (we must be justified by the blood of Jesus) and He wants righteousness between people and in society (He wants to deal with all forms of injustice).
The Kingdom of God is not only a Kingdom of salvation and redemption, but also a Kingdom of righteousness and justice on earth. Just think of all the blessings mentioned in Leviticus 26 and Deuteronomy 28 that are ours when we walk in His ways: we will flourish (in finances, health, relationships, work) and walk in our destiny.
Overcoming the accuser
The enemy tries to steal these things from us and destroy us (John 10:10). He does this by accusing us day and night before God for our sins (Revelation 12:10). Sin blocks both God's blessings and our destiny. It gives the enemy legal grounds to steal them. But when we go to the court in heaven to confess our sins, Jesus is there as our Mediator, cleansing us from every sin with His blood. Then we have the right to reclaim what was stolen, and in doing so we overcome the enemy:
They overcame him (the accuser) by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony; they did not love their lives so much as to shrink from death. (Rev. 12:11)
What a wonderful perspective!