I Stand at Caesar's Throne

Paul was standing before the religious and civil leaders. He was under arrest and giving his defense, again, when the civil authority asked Paul if he would submit to a purely religious judgement. This was Paul’s response.
“I stand at Caesar’s judgment seat, where I ought to be judged.” – Acts 25:10
Now that’s not a verse that I have spent that much time meditating on. But a paraphrase from it has been stuck in my thoughts: I stand at Caesar’s throne.
Paul chose Caesar’s judgement over that of the religious or local civil authorities. He refused to submit to the authority of the religious leaders. He realized that he had the ability to select who was his ultimate judge.
We have the capacity to "choose" as well. (Well, it is more like simply recognizing reality.)  Ultimately, we stand before God’s throne. People can judge us, but their opinions don’t have authority over us unless we give it to them. Instead we are to remember: I stand at God’s throne – where I have been judged and forgiven because of Christ. This is where I am constantly being judged and instructed to be more like Christ. And God’s throne is where my every thought, every attitude of my heart, and every word and deed will be judged against Christ’s perfection.
Regardless of people’s opinions or government decisions, I stand at God’s throne.