Do you ever need to get somewhere fast, really fast, so you speed like a demon to get there? Or do you always drive 3-5 miles over the speed limit?
No. Awesome!
Yes. To be totally honest, me too.
Ever thought about it this way – you and I break the law every time we make that choice?
31 But if we judged (discerned) ourselves truly, we would not be judged.
1 Corinthians 11:31 (ESV)
May I ask another question? Why do we allow ourselves to break the law and play with fire? We know it will burn us and may put us on the hot seat in front of a judge.
Do we:
Plan poorly?
Leave too little time to be on time?
Not care enough about the event?
Not care enough about other people to plan better – God forbid!
Does something more important occupy us?
Or do we simply focus on checking off a to-do list item?
Do our needs exceed the needs of others? (Ouch…)
Do we think it’s such a small matter it won’t really matter?
Do you see yourself in any of these options – and now feel like fire is finally burning you? I certainly do.
40 Just as the weeds are gathered and burned with fire, so will it be at the end of the age. 41 The Son of Man will send his angels, and they will gather out of his kingdom all causes of sin and all law-breakers, 42 and throw them into the fiery furnace. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
Matthew 13:40-42 (ESV)
Lord, help me (us…)!
8 There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. 2 For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death. 3 For God has done what the law, weakened by the flesh, could not do. By sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin, he condemned sin in the flesh, 4 in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.
Romans 8:1-4 (ESV)
The good news is this fire brings conviction, not condemnation. Condemnation fires are fueled by lies of the enemy. Thank God we are Truth seekers asking You to fan the flames of Your fire, Lord!
There are times no laws are broken by our actions, yet we make decisions that impact us. For example, have you stuffed your luggage to overweight, then paid the fine for the excess weight? Is there other excess we tote around and wonder why our burden is heavy?
Or have you broken a law, for something small like no seat belt or speeding – slightly – through that school zone? Off to court you go.
Did you defend yourself?
Hire a lawyer?
Was an attorney appointed?
Doesn’t really matter who – someone represents you!
In the courtroom, you sit before the judge. The chief prosecutor and your attorney – your advocate or counselor – are part of the process of determining the outcome for your actions.
Seems there’s always a price to pay when we do it our way…
Ever considered that The Judge – our Holy God – will sit in His High Place when we sit on His Mercy Seat?
And Lucifer – Satan, the Chief Prosecutor – will replay our entire life before The Judge, pointing out every single offense we’ve committed in our lifetime.
Satan says, “See that one, God. Surely You know that broke Your law – and Your heart – when she did THAT. Surely You will hand her to me as she deserves Hades as her handout, don’t You agree?”
Can you see it – and hear Lucifer – the chief prosecutor – claiming our lives due to our lies, laziness, licentiousness, or failure to love like Jesus?
“Loathsome!” he exclaims. “She’s mine.”
Deserved. Yes, it’s deserved. Your head hangs in defeat as tears streak your cheeks.
The devil made his case – brilliantly. He knows The Law, every single Word of it. He looks for every little loophole in our lives to claim us as his.
3:1 Then the guiding angel showed me Joshua the high priest [representing disobedient, sinful Israel (and you and me in this word picture)] standing before the Angel of the Lord, and Satan standing at Joshua’s right hand to be his adversary and to accuse him. 2 And the Lord said to Satan, “The Lord rebuke you, Satan! Even the Lord, who [now and ever] has chosen Jerusalem, rebuke you! Is this not a log snatched and rescued from the fire?” 3 Now Joshua was clothed with filthy (nauseatingly vile) garments and was standing before the Angel [of the Lord]. 4 He spoke to those who stood before Him, saying, “Remove the filthy garments from him.” And He said to Joshua, “See, I have caused your wickedness to be taken away from you, and I will clothe and beautify you with rich robes [of forgiveness].” 5 And I (Zechariah) said, “Let them put a clean turban on his head.” So they put a clean turban on his head and clothed him with [rich] garments. And the Angel of the Lord stood by.
6 And the Angel of the Lord [solemnly and earnestly] admonished Joshua, saying, 7 “Thus says the Lord of hosts, ‘If you will walk in My ways [that is, remain faithful] and perform My service, then you will also govern My house and have charge of My courts, and I will give you free access [to My presence] among these who are standing here.
Zechariah 3:1-7 (AMP)
“Judge, O Most Just Judge, yes, this is all true. Every word. Yes, she deserves what he claims, however, may I remind You I’ve already paid the price for her,” Jesus answers as my Defense Counselor.
“The Mercy Seat she sits on is covered in My blood – My Holy blood. I claim the weight of her life and lifestyle as well as all her misdeeds, whether little or large. I bought her redemption; I carried the cross down the Via Delarosa and up Calgary’s hill. I hung on that cross at Golgotha – just for her.”
“I’m her bond. My blood was shed to take her out of bondage. Cross off guilty and mark her ticket PAID in full.”
Thank You, Chief Counselor, for being our Advocate. You give us free access as You pour out unmerited favor and undeserved grace on us. We are blessed to be children of the One True God Who loves us – eternally.
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