Before The Throne

On March 22, 1997, Barrett and I took a spur-of-the-moment hiking trip to Pedestal Rocks with John Sherman Gilliom and Luke and Zack Stanton. We had a bit of time there to rest and meditate on the Scripture, and I pondered the seeming impossibility of bringing up godly, pure children in an evil world.

During that time I was reminded that we are not alone in this task. There are two--Jesus and the Holy Spirit--who are constantly at work on our behalf in Heaven.

The following day I expanded those initial thoughts a bit in my journal:

"To fall short of the mark that God has picked out is really the only tragedy of life. Like it or not, parents have been given the mantle of responsibility that such doesn't befall one under their care.

"Yet the world, the flesh, and the devil never tire in the relentless pursuit of their prey. These "hounds of hell" are ever seeking to kill and steal and destroy God's best. They are never drawn off track by the lukewarm or the mediocre.

"To some--and even I fall into such thinking at times--the situation appears hopeless. But we must never forget that there are two in heaven who are on our side. These two never slumber, never sleep, never fail.

"If anyone sins, there is an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the Righteous One (1 John 2:1). He ever lives to make intercession (Hebrews 7:25) for us. By Him we should offer continually the sacrifice of the praise of our lips (and our lives, by the way), giving thanks in His name (Hebrews 13:15).

"And He's not alone. The Holy Spirit intercedes even when we don't know how to pray (Romans 8:26). In some way unknown to us, our heavenly Father, who does all things well, understands the Spirit's groanings on our behalf.

"I pray that God might open the eyes of my heart to understand the provision that He's made by putting these two before God's throne to work on my behalf."

BEFORE THE THRONE

In every troubled blast, two anchors hold us fast
Before the throne.
They never let us slip in worry's tossing ship;
With hearts in heaven's grip, we're not alone.
For if we fall in sin, there's One who enters in
Before the throne.
He is our Advocate, our weakness ne'er forgets,
Who now in glory sits, the Righteous One.

Another intercedes, our cause He ever pleads
Before the throne.
And when we cannot pray, His groanings night and day
Translate our heart's dismay to God alone.
Midst splendid majesty, one day we'll bow the knee
Before the throne.
Our crowns will then be His, we'll worship Him who is,
Who was, and ever lives, for what He's done.

Copyright 1999 James McAlister

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