After being put before kings and rulers in various places for his supposed crimes against the empire, the Apostle Paul was asked whether he would go to Jerusalem to be tried by Festus. Paul knew there was no chance of a fair trial in the place where all the enemies of Christianity had purposed to murder him. Although he was a prisoner, he was also a Roman citizen. As such, he had a right to bypass the requests of the local rulers' political posturing and have his case heard before the one who was supposed to look out for all Romans... Caesar himself.
In answer to Festus, Paul invoked this right. He declared "I stand at Caesar's judgment seat, where I ought to be judged: to the Jews have I done no wrong, as thou very well knowest. For if I be an offender, or have committed any thing worthy of death, I refuse not to die: but if there be none of these things whereof these accuse me, no man may deliver me unto them. I appeal unto Caesar." (Acts 25:10-11)
Although Festus had hoped to win political favor with the Jews by bringing him to Jerusalem, there was only one response he could give. After he conferred with the council he replied "Hast thou appealed unto Caesar? unto Caesar shalt thou go." (Acts 25:12)
Although Paul was eventually killed in spite of his Roman citizenship and appeal to the greatest defender of Rome, there is an important principle that can be seen here. The concept of the highest appeal is one of the most valuable rights of any citizenship. The ideal of having the ultimate defender of citizenship judge a case is meant to remove the impact of ambitions. Judges in the highest court can advance no higher, and have only the law and the precedent set by judges in the same position.
While the legal implications of this policy are important, there is a spiritual application that is far more important.
The sons of men are as citizens in a great kingdom. Most Christians believe that we are the children of God. Paul suggested that we are not only children, but heirs. (Romans 8:17) Elsewhere he equates sainthood as citizenship. (Ephesians 2:19)
As in earthly kingdoms and empires of old, citizenship in the Kingdom of God implies certain rights. Perhaps one of the greatest of these is the highest appeal. If at any time, you feel you are treated unfairly, you require counsel, you lack wisdom, or you have nowhere else to turn, it is your right as a human being to call upon and be heard by the highest judge: God himself.
There is no complicated appeals process. There is no need for legal counsel. There is no lengthy wait before your case can be heard. The method is surprisingly simple given the great power it represents. It is called prayer.
To think that at any time, any one can simply call upon the Most High God that forged the great plan of salvation, and sacrificed his only begotten son can be accessed for matters as trivial as lost keys, requests for food nourishment, and petitions for help remembering studied materials during examinations. Of course, he also hears prayers for matters such as healing a loved one of a grievous illness, answers and comfort for those that have lost loved ones, pleading for help to overcome regretted acts, or requests on behalf of those that are in distress or despair. No request is too large, or too small.
Not only are men able to do this, but they are encouraged to do so. Jesus Christ taught "Ask and it shall be given you; seek and ye shall find, knock and it shall be opened unto you: For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened. Or what man is there of you, whom if son ask bread, will he give him a stone? Or if he ask a fish, will he give him a serpent? If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him?" (Matthew 7:7-11)
Let no man neglect or attempt to diminish the value of this gift of Heaven... Prayer can be more than a repetitive vocal wish list... it is the power to talk to God... it is the highest appeal.
