The Judge.

One morning a man came before a judge. As he stood there, a magistrate handed the Judge a file and he read it over. Eventually he looked up at the man and he said, it appears you have a speeding fine, what do you have to say ?

The man replied, your honour, I was driving along and seemed to momentarily lose my concentration. I didn't notice the warning sign and before I knew what was happening, I was flagged down. The man paused and the judge stare remained fixed urging him to continue. I was only doing a few MPH above the limit and I don't feel there was any real harm done. Under the circumstances, I would plead my case with your honour and ask that you show me leniency.

The judge spoke. I have looked at your case and I noticed that this isn't the first time you have committed a crime of this nature, in fact you have a some previous with speeding which is why your case was brought before me and is now more serious. It appears you were driving in a built up area and there is a children's school nearby which could have resulted in something much more serious which demonstrates a careless attitude.

The man pleaded, your honour I was pulled over by the officer at a quiet time out with the normal school hours, there was no real danger to any children or in fact anyone else, and as I said, I was only slightly over the limit. I am a man of good standing in the local community, I have a wife and children of my own and do a great deal of good in the community.

The judge looked up at the man and spoke calmly. He said, Am I to assume that your concentration levels would have been higher if in fact you were driving during school hours? You say you have children of your own, how would you feel if a stranger knocked over one of your own children, would it matter that they were driving only a few MPH over the speed limit? Would you not expect the full force of the law to come down on the stranger regardless of their excuses and would you not expect a judge to carry out a sentence to the full ?

The man stared back at the judge and said nothing. The judge continued, in this case it's not what happened that's important, but in fact what could have happened. I can see from your case file you're a decent and respectable man of some standing and have noted the good you do in the local community. I also understand you had a lapse in concentration which can happen to anyone. However, regardless of all this the law is there for a reason and we must protect our citizens, especially the young and innocent.

The judge went on to pass sentence on the man and said, I find you guilty as charged and I'm issuing you a heavy fine for this crime. After, you can go and your name will be cleared. The man spoke up; forgive me your honour but I have no way to pay the fine. The judge replied, do you have a friend or relative that is willing to pay this for you? The man thought for a moment and said, no there is no one, Im sorry, hoping the judge would show him leniency.

The judge thought for a moment and although he felt compassion, he ordered the officers in court to handcuff the man and take him to prison in order that justice was done and the punishment was carried out, fitting the crime.

Later in the afternoon, another man with less credentials stood in front of the judge and his case was almost identical. At the end of the case the judge issued the same fine and again the convicted man pleaded that he had no way of paying. As the judge was about to order the man to be sentenced, someone stood up at the back of the court and held their arm up and said; 'I will pay the fine'. Later he was released and his name was instantly cleared.

After the proceedings the man spoke with his redeemer, he asked; why did you pay my fine? His redeemer said, you may not recall, but many years ago you did me a good turn. I was down and you put your faith in me, built up my self esteem and helped me so much that it turned my entire life around. What may have seemed unimportant to you at the time gave me great hope, galvanised me and moulded me into who I am today? I have never forgotten this and was desperate to show my gratitude and repay you in some way. Today that opportunity came along.

As the laws of the heavens transcend down to our judiciary system, just as in the courts of men, so it will be on the Lord's Judgement Day as every man and woman that ever lived will stand before God and give an account of their entire lives and judgement will swiftly follow.

There will be those who will plead their case, but the Lord will say; I didn't know you. Some will plead; but Lord I lived a good life, helped others and had love in my heart, and he will say, yes but you never received my pardon. Still there will be others who will say, Lord Lord! I zealously seeked you out day and night, practised my religion and did good works, and he will say, yes but there was no salvation and I never knew you, depart from me.

At this point we need to examine the consequences of our actions and where and how something begins. The first man in the story that was sent to prison by the judge for speeding can trace his predicament back to a single (almost innocent) fleeting moment of human error. He may feel hard done to, but something can start off as small and manifest into something much larger. Although the punishment seemed somewhat draconian and the judge may have had some compassion, in the end he had no choice but to carry out the laws of the land.

The second man in the story had no more or less influence with the judge, but as his good friend paid his fine, the judge simply carried out procedure which was to vindicate him. Immediately his crime was forgotten and he was free to go.

We must engage our minds and drill down into our deep conciseness and ask ourselves: are we the first man in the story with no redeemer, or are we the second man that had his fine paid ? This is how it will be on the day of judgement as God himself is the judge and the redeemer is the Lord Jesus Christ.

Whether we agree or disagree, understand or not, whether we are superficial in our belief system, religious or atheistic makes no difference whatsoever. God has spoken and ordained that unless our fine has been paid by Christ and our souls have been redeemed, he will not pardon us under any circumstances and we will not see eternal life.

The way we think, process information, and come to our own conclusions will eventually determine our final destination. If we apply human wisdom and see things through a secular lens it will eventually lead to our moral decay. If a momentary lack of concentration and human error can lead a good man to a prison sentence, then by comparison, self deception can, and will lead to an eternity of outer darkness out with the light and love of God. And If the judge in the court is compelled to carry out the law of the land, then likewise, As matter of fact, the Lord himself will carry out his own spiritual law in the heavens.

But it is God who executes judgement, putting down one and lifting up another.

Psalm 75:7.