Over the years I have served on several juries. I will admit that I was usually less than thrilled to receive that summons in the mail. Back when I was still working full time, Monday was supposed to be my day off and almost every time I was summoned to appear was on a Monday. Most of the times I was selected to serve on the jury, there would be a mistrial or a settlement before we were asked to deliberate and render a verdict. But I remember one time I was impaneled and the trial started that same afternoon. We were released around 5 p.m. and told to return at 8:30 on Tuesday morning, which meant missing a day of doing whatever I was supposed to do that day.

I tried to take the attitude that I was doing something to render a service to my community. As we listened to the evidence against the defendant and then the defense offered by his attorney, it was obvious that the young man was guilty and that was the verdict we rendered.

I remember trying to imagine what it would feel like to be sitting where he was, hearing the charges read against him, listening as the evidence was presented and then hearing the verdict announced. Then it occurred to me that I will one day be in that position.

2 Corinthians 5:10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive what is due him for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad.

Romans 14:10b For we will all stand before God’s judgment seat.

Imagine sitting before the throne of Jesus and hearing all the charges read against you, every single thing you have done wrong in your life. The list would include everything from that “little white lie” to marital infidelity, stealing a candy bar to spreading false and vicious rumors, losing your temper to taking God’s name in vain. Just imagine hearing it all read out loud. And then imagine trying to defend yourself in the face of those charges, all of which you know to be true. That is a frightening prospect.

The good news is that you don’t have to face those charges alone. You have an advocate on your side who will do more than offer a defense. He will not try to justify your actions. Rather, He takes the punishment in your place so that you will not have to suffer the eternal consequences your actions deserve. Paul wrote about that as well in 2 Corinthians.

God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. 2 Corinthians 5:21

In what has to be the most marvelous exchange in all of history, Jesus took your sin on Himself in order to pay its price, and then offers you His righteousness, His perfect life of obedience. It is because of your faith in Christ that you can walk out of that final courtroom, away from the judgment seat, as one declared to be “not guilty.”  The verdict that should be rendered against you was instead placed on Jesus so that you can go free.

I prayed for the man we convicted in that jury trial. His earthly consequences for his actions have long since been fulfilled. Hopefully he turned his life around.

If we were to pay the penalty for our sin, we would never finish that sentence. It would be eternal separation from God. That is why the salvation Jesus accomplished for us is so astounding. It frees us from guilt and condemnation. It gives us the certainty of forgiveness and life everlasting with our Creator, Redeemer and Sanctifier. This message of forgiveness and life and salvation that comes from Jesus is for everyone, including that man our jury found guilty … and each of you reading this today.