How can anyone exist before God the Judge?

We stand before God, the Judge of all (Hebrews 12:23) and before Jesus, the mediator of a new covenant (Hebrews 12:24). When reading “the Judge of all,” you might think of all people meaning the living and the dead, but in connection with the context of the text it is more plausible to think especially of all believers. All those, to which God renders entry into heaven in his final judgment.

But now we have the gripping question: how can we then ever come to him? In Hebrews 12:24 we see it so beautifully: thanks to Jesus, we may draw near to God. The way is open again! He went into the fire of God’s wrath for us and bore the judgment and the punishment that we had deserved because of our sins. Only through him, we may and can come to God to warm ourselves on the fire of God’s love! In his love he purposely gave his only Son as the mediator of a new covenant! God is our Judge and our Saviour. So mighty and great and gracious is our God! Now we no longer need to flee from God (as they did at Mount Sinai) or remain at a far distance out of fear, but we can run toward him via Jesus! Only because of the unique sacrifice of Jesus can we stand before God and remain there!