by Warren Baldwin

Ever feel like your vote really didn't count? It might not. Columnist Charley Reese recently wrote: "There are 30,000 to 40,000 lobbyists and representatives of special-interest groups in Washington, compared with 435 members of the House, 100 senators, one president and one vice president. Ever wonder why it's so hard for your voice to be heard?" (Idle Thoughts On The Road To Understanding, Friday, Aug. 8, 2003). reese.king-online.com

Wow!! Our elected officials are constantly bombarded with visits from well-meaning "friends" bearing gifts and advice on upcoming legislation. That may be why sometimes it seems like politics and economics just happens without us. People can begin to feel disenfranchised in their own country.

People sometimes feel that same way in their spiritual life. God has so much to be concerned about, how can he possibly find the time or energy for me? There is so much evil in the world, how can he conceivably recognize and remember the little I am able to do? And on that final day, what hope can I possibly have before his throne?

The answer is: Representation. The one who represents us before the Father is on a mission to secure our liberty and guarantee our freedom for all eternity. He can not be bought off or side-tracked from his mission. The evil one has already tried all that. Early in his mission Jesus was approached by this "lobbyist" promising power and wealth if he would forget his mission of intercession for the people and throw his lot behind the evil one. Jesus refused. Leaving Satan, Jesus marched straight to Nazareth where he preached,

"The Spirit of the Lord has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to release the oppressed" (Luke 4:18).

Not even the wiles of the evil one with promises of great personal benefit could deter Jesus from his course of saving you.

Today Jesus is in the very presence of the Father continuing his work of securing eternal liberty and freedom for us: freedom from sin and its consequences of despair and death; liberty to live as sons and daughters of the Father.

Want some assurance of that? Consider Hebrews 7:25:

"Therefore he is able to save completely those who come to God through him, because he always lives to intercede for them."

Jesus' very mission, his very purpose, is to appeal to God on your behalf. He is always interceding for you. He offered his own life for your sins (Heb. 7:27), becoming your high priest. He continues to appeal to God on your behalf, working since the day of your salvation to keep you saved. Jesus is representing us in the sanctuary, the true tabernacle (8:2).

When we vote to send someone to represent us in Washington, we have no guarantees that the desire of our hearts will be honored. We can only hope. But when Jesus ascended into the throne room of the Father to represent us to Him, He went without any personal motive or ambition. His whole purpose was to tell the Father, "Yes, he's mine. Yes, she's mine."

We couldn't hope for better representation! Our character isn't enough. Our good works aren't enough. Our Bible knowledge, good intentions, sacrifices -- none of them are enough to gain acquittal from our sins before the Father. But Jesus is our guarantee of God's promise of salvation. This is one representative we can count on to represent our needs and interests. Completely.

"Father, thank you for the continued presence of the Great Intercessor on our behalf. May we, today, experience the confidence and joy that you meant for your redeemed to experience. Bring peace to our hearts. Thank you."