THE MEDIATOR

 

Advocate With the Father by LDS Bookstore

“Each of us lives on a kind of spiritual credit. One day the account will be closed, a settlement demanded. However casually we may view it now, when that day comes and the foreclosure is imminent, we will look around in restless agony for someone, anyone, to help us….

“Unless there is a mediator, unless we have a friend, the full weight of justice untampered, unsympathetic, must, positively must, fall on us. The full recompense for every transgression, however minor or however deep, will be exacted from us to the uttermost farthing.

“But know this: Truth, glorious trust, proclaims there is such a Mediator. ‘For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus’  (1 Timothy 2:5). Through Him mercy can be fully extended to each of us without offending the eternal law of justice. This truth is the very root of Christian doctrine.”

-          Boyd K. Packer, “The Mediator”  General Conference April 1977

 

Like a bird in flight

My sins ascend to Thee;

Rising from the ashes of mortality,

They seek Thy love to set them free.

- Cathryne Allen 

THE ADVOCATE

 

“We must always seek to be on the Lord’s side; but what good news it is to know that HE IS ON OUR SIDE.

“His powerful advocacy in our behalf is not limited to pleading our case before the Father, for “your advocate…knoweth the weakness of man and how to succor them who are tempted” (D&C 62:1).  It is the advocate’s role to present our case in its most favourable light, refuting the challenges of the adversary who opposes us and who presents our case in its worst possible light.

“Even in our thoughts about ourselves, we must resist the adversary’s attempts to convince us of our worthlessness by interpreting our life circumstances in a negative light; rather let us listen to him who knows our weaknesses fully yet believes in us more than we may believe in ourselves. What glorious news, not only that the greatest advocate of all is willing to represent those who are guilty, but also that he will take OUR case!

“I am the first and the last; I am your advocate with the Father….Therefore, lift up your heads and rejoice….Let the hearts of all my people rejoice.”  (D&C 110:4-6)”

-          Elder Bruce C. Hafen, “The Belonging Heart”, p 155

This should be the most comforting knowledge we could possibly have, especially for those of us who are hard on ourselves; and on those who have been damaged by life in some way and cannot lift their view of themselves onto higher ground. Know that, if not in this life, then in the next, we will be cleansed of all our sorrows and all the damage we have suffered at the hands of others will be washed away to make room for our eternal joy.

“And I John saw the holy city…and I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people…and God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain; for the former things are passed away.

“And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold I make all things new……I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely. (Revelation 21:2-6)

- CATHRYNE ALLEN 

(Art: Our Advocate by Jay Bryant Ward)

THE ADVOCATE

 

When man goes before the ‘judgment bar’ and faces God, ‘the Judge of all’ we will each need a ‘defense attorney’ (2 Nephi 33:15; Alma 11:44; Hebrews 12:23). Being this ‘defense attorney’ is one of the Saviour’s roles we should understand and revere the most. It is the role of the Advocate.

When we stand before the Great Judge, we will be accused of being imperfect and unworthy to enter God’s presence because “all have sinned and come short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23). The Saviour will stand beside us as our Advocate to plead for mercy for us but with a huge difference.

In an earthly judicial system, the defense lawyer pleads the cause on the basis that the client is innocent. In the case of eternal judgment, this is an impossibility because God knows everything, therefore, he knows that there is no innocence in any of us. When the Saviour steps forward to plead our case, He will not be pointing to our lack of guilt; rather He will be bringing the Father’s attention to His own righteousness and sinless state. This is the difference. This will be the plea:

“Father, behold the sufferings and death of him who did no sin, in whom thou wast well pleased; behold the blood of thy Son which was shed, the blood of Him who thou gavest that thyself might be glorified; wherefore, Father, spare these my brethren that believe on my name, that they may come unto me and have everlasting life” (D&C 45:3-5; Hebrews 7:25; D&C 38:4; 110:4).

This is parental love, this is utmost protection, this is unfathomable sacrifice of a Father for His spiritually begotten children. Consider this story:

“On more than one occasion, a devoted mother pleaded with Abraham Lincoln for the life of a son who had committed a serious offense while serving in the Union forces. Often, touched by that mother’s own sacrifice for her country, Lincoln granted the pardon. Perhaps he thought, “Not for your sons’s sake, but for your sake I will pardon him”.

“Likewise, God the Father must have been deeply moved by the incomparable sacrifice of the Saviour. Like the mother who pleaded for the life of her son, the Saviour pleads for the spiritual lives of His spiritual children.” (Tad R. Callister, “The Infinite Atonement”, p 326)

Imagine the indescribable sorrow of standing before the judgment bar of God with no one to protect you and to plead for mercy for your eternal welfare and existence. Imagine standing there all alone, belonging to no one. This need never be if we just believe on His name and accept His path to salvation. He is our hope, He is the way, the truth, the life.

 

Like a bird in flight

My sins ascend to Thee;

Rising from the ashes of mortality,

They seek Thy love to set them free.

- CATHRYNE ALLEN 

(Art: Son of Man by Chris Brazelton)