A witness is one who knows. One who has seen. But usually this word is used in legal settings. When a case is being prosecuted or when something very important needs verification. A notary is a professional witness whose seal verifies authenticity. When God calls himself a Witness, he is saying more than he knows everything. He is reminding us that he will act on that knowledge. He will not remain silent when it is his time to testify. The truth really is known and will be honored–ultimately–by God, himself.

When judgment was coming on God’s beloved people, He said, “For they have done outrageous things in Israel…I know it and am a witness to it,” (Jer 29:23; Mic 1:2). He knows all about us. He knows our loves and desires. And that really matters because, at the perfect time, he acts to vindicate truth. “A truthful witness saves lives, but a false witness is deceitful” (Prov 14:25). Sometimes people refuse to speak up for the truth. Often we sin by silence. But God cannot condone evil and will not endure wrong forever. He will surely take the stand as Witness and Judge. It is Jesus who is “the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the ruler of God’s creation” (Rev 3:14).

Job believed in him as his Messiah and said, “Even now my witness is in heaven; my advocate is on high. My intercessor is my friend…on behalf of a man he pleads with God as a man pleads for his friend” (Job 16:19-21). And it is our only hope, too. “My dear children, I write this to you so that you will not sin. But if anybody does sin, we have one who speaks to the Father in our defense–Jesus Christ the Righteous One” (1 John 2:1). Our salvation includes the gift of Jesus’ perfect obedience of God’s Law (righteousness). So, Paul could boldly declare that no one can “bring any charge against those whom God has chosen” (Rom 8:33). God has justified us. He has legally, as Judge, pardoned us since we have trusted in Christ alone as our Savior. We have been freed from sin’s penalty by faith in our sin-bearing Lord!

As children of God, we are to be like God. We “have put on the new self, which is being renewed … in the image of its Creator” (Col. 3:10). “You are my witnesses, declares the Lord” (Isa 43:10). We are to testify in God’s behalf. We are to tell what He has said. Jesus said, “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you, and you will be my witnesses” (Acts 1:8). Christ’s Word and work, His gospel, is our speech. The world is condemned and awaits eternal judgment(John 3:18-19). But Christ has died to remove our judgment. Can you remain silent? Get strength through the Spirit to boldly point others to “Jesus Christ who is the faithful witness…the ruler of the kings of the earth” (Rev 1:5). And on judgment day, he will acknowledge you as his.