Thousands of years before Jesus came to earth to die for the sins of the world, his work as an advocate and an intercessor was already underway. In the midst of his torment, Job acknowledged that he had someone in heaven looking out for him!
Even now my witness is in heaven; my advocate is on high. My intercessor is my friend as my eyes pour out tears to God; on behalf of a man he pleads with God as one pleads for a friend. – Job 16:19-21
Job was a godly man that was experiencing unheard of tragedy and pain. He was begging God for an answer for why these things were happening to him. He was surrounded by people that claimed to know the reasons but missed the mark by a mile when they offered their advice. These words that he proclaims during all of that can be a tremendous source of hope for us when we face pain and don’t understand why. We have an intercessor in heaven that is pleading with God on behalf of us as one pleads for a friend.
Jesus stands before the Father on our behalf! No matter who or what is attempting to separate us from the love of God – they cannot get past Jesus.
Christ Jesus who died – more than that, who was raised to life – is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? … No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. – Romans 8:34-35, 37
God is keeping track of all of our sorrows, and he promises that one day he will wipe away every tear we’ve every cried! (Revelation 21:4) The struggles we face on earth are temporary and we will have victory over them! The love of God in Christ is eternal and nothing will ever change that!