Guilty!

1 John 2:1-2  My dear children, I am writing this to you so that you will not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate who pleads our case before the Father. He is Jesus Christ, the one who is truly righteous. He himself is the sacrifice that atones for our sins—and not only our sins but the sins of all the world.

The judge looks down at me from his spot on the raised bench, his blacks robes framing his stern face. “Mr. Godsey, I find you guilty, and sentence you to death!”

A murmur goes through the crowd. The verdict is no surprise, I was guilty. I did everything my accuser said, and more. I had no defense other than stupidity, and that one doesn’t really count. Nope, I am guilty as charged.”

Then my advocate gets up. He approaches the bench and says, “Father, it is true. Jerry did all of those heinous things. He is absolutely guilty…” Not exactly the vigorous defense I was hoping for. He goes on, “Your judgement and sentence are just, according to the law he is guilty and deserving of death, but I have already paid his debt.”

The judge’s voice thunders, “Sentence paid in full. The defendant lives! Go, and sin no more.”

Make no mistake about it, God forbids us to sin. However, if we do sin, we have an advocate, one who pleads our case. But Jesus does more than that, he paid our penalty on the cross. We shouldn’t sin willy nilly, knowing we have forgiveness. Because when  we sin, we don’t just break God’s law, we break God’s heart.

Today’s Readings: Jeremiah 21,24,27; Psalm 118; 1 John 2

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