Q. Where is Christ now?
A. Christ sits in heaven at the right hand of the Father,
making intercession for the saints.
Forty days after Jesus rose from the dead He ascended back
into heaven. His absence from earth made way for the Holy Spirit to indwell
believers, so Jesus told His disciples it was good that He left (John 16:7).
When Jesus left He didn’t retire to South Florida, nor did
He go to heaven to twiddle His thumbs and wait for the rapture. He is busy
today sitting at the right hand of the Father, serving as our advocate.
Romans 8:34 says Jesus, “indeed is interceding for us (also
see Hebrews 7:25).” This work of intercession means Jesus speaks to God on our
behalf. This is comparable to the role of a defense attorney.
Why do we need an attorney? Because there is a prosecutor
bringing horrible charges against us, and unfortunately, the charges are all
true. Revelation 12:10 says Satan is “the accuser of the brethren” who has been
accusing us “day and night.” Just as Satan tried to do with Job, he is
constantly telling God about all the bad things we have done.
Since the enemy is a prosecutor, Jesus serves as our
defense. In 1 John 1:21 the apostle wrote, “Little children, I am writing these
things unto you so that you do not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an
advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous.” Satan tells God how bad
we are, but Jesus tells God how righteous He is. Our salvation is not based on
our righteousness, but on the fact that we are trusting in the righteousness of
Christ.
Finally, it must be pointed out that Jesus is the only one
capable of filling this role because it was His work at Calvary that made our
forgiveness possible. Although some like to pray to God through Mary or saints,
1 Timothy 2:5 tells us there is only “one mediator between God and men, the man
Christ Jesus.”
We will not see Jesus until the rapture or our judgment, but
until then He sees us, and He ever lives to make intercession for us. Thank God
for a righteous advocate to speak in our defense!
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