And the Books Were Opened --Dave Sims

I had the opportunity to sit in a courtroom a couple weeks ago.  It was an interesting scene as there was a flurry of activity prior to session.  Lawyers catching up on legal cases, talking shop, and ironing out details about other pending cases. Each of them were taking their turn to talk with the prosecutor about various issues.  The room was an intimidating place.  From the gallery where I sat you look over the back of the prosecution and defense tables.  A 12 person jury bench is seated to the right side of the room.  The witness block felt like it had the weight of the room on its shoulders located down in the front right at center of this arena.  And finally at center top of the room lording over everything was the judges bench.  I noticed that were glass covered book cases lining one entire wall from the front of the room to the back, and the entire wall behind the judge.  The books looked to be massive law books from more than a hundred years ago.  On the prosecutors table were stacks of legal folders ranging in size from thin to massive, holding legal details about the people whose lives would be on review that day.  
            I have been in a courtroom many times before, I’ll let you take that idea where you want.  But today was different, as I sat there I felt the Lord take me to Revelation 20:11-12 “Then I saw a great white throne and him who was seated on it. The earth and the heavens fled from his presence, and there was no place for them.  And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened.”  What a scene, trying to fathom what it will be like when we stand before God our Judge, the Almighty, on the throne.  Every detail of every persons life written and read, this is a terrifying moment for me.  All this time Satan has been the prosecutor, he is our accuser, the fault finder, but by this time he is already condemned.   Yet we all stand in that moment guilty, who can save us?  "Another book was opened, which is the book of life.” (v.12)  If we are in Christ then He is our defense.  There is no escaping the Judgement of God, we must endure it, and we can only endure it through Christ.  What a terrifying and glorious moment that will be, I dread it and am excited all at the same time.  The day is coming… Are you ready for the books to be opened?  Is Jesus your defense?