Legal Standing

"Who can stand before his indignation? and who can abide in the fierceness of his anger? his fury is poured out like fire, and the rocks are thrown down by him." (Nahum 1: 6)

"And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works." (Revelation 20: 12)

The words "stand" and "standing" have several varied definitions. Notice these:

"...to support oneself on the feet in an erect position."

"...to maintain one's position - 'stand firm'."

"bear courageously - 'stands pain well'."

"to perform the duty of - 'stand guard'."

"stand one's ground : to maintain one's position - stand on one's own feet : to think or act independently - stand tall : to exhibit courage, strength, or calm especially in the face of adversity." (http://www.m-w.com/)

Every man will "stand before" God in the Day of Judgment. What "standing" will you have? Will you be able to "stand your ground"? Or, "stand tall" before the Lord? Will you be able to exhibit courage and remain calm in that hour? Will you be able to support yourself long? Will you be able to "maintain your cause" before our august God?

"If thou canst answer me, set thy words in order before me, stand up." (Job 33: 5)

This is what the Lord will say to everyone in the Day of Judgment. "Bring forth your case!" "Answer the charges laid against you!" "Make your plea!" Those who are without Christ, without his atoning blood, without the forgiveness of sins that comes from him and his sacrifice, sinners will "have no leg to stand on."

First, God will reject the plea of "good works." Men will not be able to say that their "good deeds outweigh their bad deeds." This is a feeble case and one that the Righteous Judge will "throw out" of court or "dismiss with prejudice." "By the deeds of the law shall no man be justified." (Romans 3: 20,28)

Men will not be able to "plead ignorance" either. This will prove to be also a feeble case that will be easily overthrown by Heaven's Prosecutor.

Many other such "pleas" and "cases" will be advanced by those who are charged with committing sin and rebellion (sedition) against the government of Heaven.

"Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man." (Luke 21: 36)

"But why dost thou judge thy brother? or why dost thou set at nought thy brother? for we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ." (Romans 14: 10)

The Lord Jesus Christ will be the one who judges all men on that day. He will be both judge and prosecutor of the wicked unforgiven sinner. But, thank God, he will also be there as a "defense attorney" for every believer! (I John 2: 1)

In a sense, we all now "stand before" the Lord. This is seen because God is seeing and watching all we do. This makes sin more heinous.

"And Elijah said, As the LORD of hosts liveth, before whom I stand, I will surely shew myself unto him to day." (18: 15)

"Therefore thus saith the LORD, If thou return, then will I bring thee again, and thou shalt stand before me" (Jeremiah 15: 19).

In this latter verse, there is the added idea of not just initially appearing and standing before the Lord, but the ability to remain standing.

Friend, what is your "standing" before the Lord? What will be your "case" before the awful judgment bar of God? What will be your "plea"?