Guilty as charged
By mattsmallbone. Filed in God |
I stood before a judge this morning…
I had been clocked going a mere three miles an hour faster than what I could have got away with (whilst dropping a mate at the airport). It was an understandable, even charitable mistake. Three miles an hour is the speed at which humans walk. It was no big deal.
However, I stood in front of that well-mannered and educated man and I said,
“Guilty, your honour”.
Despite the fact that I was driving with no evil intentions in mind, I was as guilty as both the lady who didn’t strap her kids into their car seats and the guy who disrupted a funeral procession.
My profession of guilt was humbling and energizing all at the same time. It was freeing to admit my transgression to another human. The Catholics are right about that.
At my moment of confession, a lot of things about eternity snapped into sharp focus.
I believe that I will be in that same position again one day after I die. However, next time I’ll be betting the farm that Jesus died to save me from myself and my sin.
On that day I want to hear “Well done good and faithful servant”.
I don’t really feel that good or faithful most of the time. (The Calvinists are right about that total depravity stuff). BUT… I will be covered by grace… and I believe that that will be enough. I have no other hope of success. Grace will be my first and last chance on that day.
I was reminded about the reality of the coming judgment today. My $75 fine is the best spiritual investment I’ve made in a long time. This was a life lesson worth having.
Drive carefully,
matt
Tuesday, June 15th 2010 at 11:11 pm |
Well put Matt! I definitely share the sentiment of not feeling good or faithful many times.. and that’s when the Holy Spirit whispers that something either needs to stop, start, or change within me.. and then the Father begins to mold me again.. each time into a more ‘faithful servant’..[and the fire of change and molding can be rather painful i must say, but if the end product is a better me, it's worth it]..
As for you getting a ticket for going three miles over the speed limit.. WOW! Are you serious?? In Cali I believe we have a five mile allowance.. it’s very easy to go a few miles over & not even realize it..
Wednesday, June 16th 2010 at 4:11 am |
Amen Matt………..well put!!
Wednesday, June 16th 2010 at 7:41 am |
Thanks for posting your thoughts. That feeling of being far from faithful and good hits me too on a very regular basis.
Thank God that His grace is more than sufficient and that we are covered by it (even though I have to remind myself of that on a very regular basis too!)
$75 for three miles over the limit? My goodness, that’s really strict!
Wednesday, June 16th 2010 at 7:54 am |
They make you go before a judge for minor speeding offences? That’s a bit harsh!!
Thursday, June 17th 2010 at 8:33 pm |
It’s amazing the reverence that can be felt in a courtroom, isn’t it, Matt. About 20 years ago, I was transporting children to church, and received a citation for having two kids in my back seat who were not in restraints. It had been 15 yrs between my lst and 3rd child, and I was ignorant of the changed laws regarding this, thinking they were past the age the law specified. (I learned to keep up with the law after that!) Anyway, I had to go to court, and felt the same awe, and thought similar thoughts in that place as you described. It was one of my humblest moments, and served as an object lesson of standing before God one day. The judge did show me mercy (just as God has a few thousand times), and I only had to pay court costs with no ticket going against my driving record.
Thanks for the reminder that I am a servant of the most high God, and that HIS word needs to be hidden in my heart, that I might not sin against him. We are accountable, having to pay the cost of our actions, but thankfully, God is also full of grace and mercy towards his children.
Sunday, June 27th 2010 at 8:34 am |
Well put Matt! I definitely share the sentiment of not feeling good or faithful many times.. and that’s when the Holy Spirit whispers that something either needs to stop, start, or change within me.. and then the Father begins to mold me again.. each time into a more ‘faithful servant’..[and the fire of change and molding can be rather painful i must say, but if the end product is a better me, it's worth it]..
As for you getting a ticket for going three miles over the speed limit.. WOW! Are you serious?? In Cali I believe we have a five mile allowance.. it’s very easy to go a few miles over & not even realize it..
Sunday, July 4th 2010 at 9:32 pm |
Glad we could be of assistance