The Court of the Cross

Good day or G'day! if you feel it today. How do you plead today? Guilty, that is probably the only acceptable plea in this court to the charges against you or me. What is this court though, and who made the law? The first time we came before the court of the cross, several choices came to mind. The charges listed were many, and those who believe in Christ could not answer to one single charge. Therefore, we plead guilty and asked for mercy from the judge of this court. Forgiveness, mercy, grace, and the love of Jesus our Lord cascaded down upon us in the form of the Holy Spirit as our Lord, the judge himself, took the penalty for our sin. However, not everyone pleads guilty and takes their mercy like a man. (Feel free to substitute 'accepts it with grace and beauty like a lady' or some other phrase you like.)

Some would plead no contest to the charges. Yes, they have sinned now and again, but death is just the end, there is nothing more so why should they contest the charges since it all won't matter in the end. Others plead not guilty; they are good people and God, if He is loving as they say, would never throw people who are basically good into the jail for all eternity. After all won't most people except for a few of the very worst, serial killers and such, end up in heaven anyway? they ask. Some refuse to recognize the court at all. There is no god, they say with sincerity, and only the weak-minded need a religion to comfort them. A select group would lord it over the court. To them all gods are but constructs of the human imagination. They cannot be convicted by an imagination, so they put themselves in charge and declare the court invalid. Strangely, the one known as the accuser of the brethren may like this group best of all, though he knows quite well the judge is neither invalid nor an invalid.

One day this court will meet for the final judgment. Like it, hate it, or refuse to believe in it, the Bible says that the court will meet and the books will be opened. I think it quite possible that the actual cross will be there. The only hope in this court is the one who died on that cross. Anyone relying on their own goodness will find it to be less than good enough. The people who thought that heart attack, or accident, or bullet was the end, will wake up to rather a shock. Those who would refuse the court's authority will find it completely authoritative. Those who refuse to believe there is a judge will see His face. Those who look forward to some sort of second chance, probation, or reduced sentence may despair most of all. We have one chance, one life, to plead guilty and accept the mercy of a substitute for God's justice - don't throw it away!

Bucky