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THE COURTROOM
1 John 2:1-6; Romans 8:31-39

I’ve never been involved in a real court case, but I’ve been around since before Perry Mason went into syndication, so I know a few things about legal matters.

Courtroom dramas make for great entertainment, but there is a real courtroom trial that we’re all involved in and it’s going on right now. It’s serious business, too. Like you, I’m on trial for my life.

Satan is the prosecuting attorney-the Accuser-and he’s ruthless. He’s entering into evidence every sinful thing I’ve said and done and even thought. It’s an airtight case he’s putting together, and, as much as I hate to admit it, all the changes against me are valid. They’re based on my sinfulness and defilement.

What do I do? The Judge is God Himself-the very One against whom I’ve sinned. It’s His laws I’ve broken. It’s His Word I’ve disobeyed. And He’s been a witness to it all.

My only hope is a sound defense strategy. Let’s see, I could try an insanity defense. Or how about impaired judgment? The prosecuting attorney made me do it? No, the Judge won’t buy any of those. He knows the truth.

No, I’m going to place all of my trust in my Defense Attorney-my Advocate, my Intercessor. Perhaps you’ve heard of Him? – Jesus Christ, the Righteous? The righteousness of my Attorney is very important, because He has already taken the punishment for my crimes. He was put to death in my place. And then He came alive again to represent me when Satan brought his charges against me. It was His righteousness that made Jesus the only acceptable substitute for me.

This is some kind of drama, isn’t it? There’s Satan hurling accusations at me. He’s so convincing, I sometimes feel like there’s no hope. And I really get down on myself, determining to do better. But every accusation he makes is handled perfectly by Jesus, my Savior. He reminds the court that each offense has already been paid. It’s covered with Christ’s own blood. As a result, the Judge dismisses one accusation after another. Nothing Satan hurls at me is allowed to stand, thank to my righteous Advocate.

I know Satan won’t give up, so I’m in this for the long haul. Do I ever think about changing representation? No way! Although I have to admit I occasionally think I’m capable of representing myself. I eventually come to my senses, though.

Nope, I’m sticking with Jesus. He’s my Advocate, my Intercessor, my Redeemer and Savior and Lord. As 1 John chapter 2 says, “But if anybody does sin, we have one who speaks to the Father in our defense-Jesus Christ, the Righteous One. He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world.”

Oh yes, that’s the other great thing about my attorney – He’s the Judge’s Son!

The Dead Cat

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Psalm 103

I grew up in rural, northern Wisconsin where the summers were short, the winters were harsh, and where pets were not allowed in the house no matter the weather.

My sister had a cat named Blondie that didn’t make it through the long, cold winter of my eighteenth year. While my sister was extremely upset over Blondie’s death, I wasn’t much for cats – especially my sister’s cats – and probably wasn’t very sympathetic. That may be why I was given the responsibility of disposing of the body.

Now, think about it. It’s the middle of a very long, very cold Wisconsin winter. What am I supposed to do with a dead cat? I dumped Blondie into a cardboard box and set it behind the driver’s seat in the 1962 Ford Falcon my brother and I drove. But, you know, somehow I didn’t get around to taking care of the cat.
So, for the next few months, I drove around with a dead cat in a cardboard box in the backseat of my car.

Now, before you get all grossed out, remember it was winter. It never got above freezing, even in the Falcon. I tried not to think about Blondie and I rarely even sneaked a peek at the box. But, still, in the back of my mind I knew there was a dead cat in the car and sooner or later I’d have to dispose of it. I’ll wait ‘til later.

Spring rolled around. Things began to thaw. I began thinking more often about Blondie riding around right behind me. The thought began weighing on my mind. “I‘ve got to get rid of this cat! But I really don’t want to deal with it. I’ll wait.”

Sounds pretty ridiculous, doesn’t it? How foolish to drive around for months with a dead cat in your backseat! Well, you’re right. But have you ever driven around through life carrying a blunder…a secret sin…a burden from your past? It’s something you’ve tried to ignore. You never look at it and try not to think about it. You certainly don’t want to deal with it. And the longer you wait, the more rotten it gets. You’re terrified that soon it’s going to start stinking up your life and people are going to discover you’re not what you pretend to be. You wish it would just go away!

Well, whatever it is you’re carting around, afraid to deal with, isn’t it time you got rid of it? In Psalm 103, David gives praise to the Lord “who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases.” Later he exclaims, “For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is His love for those who fear Him; as far as the east is from the wet, so far has He removed our transgressions from us.”

Today, why don’t you identify the “dead cat” in your life, deal with it, confess it to the Lord and give it to Him for disposal. As far as the east is from the west – it’s gone!

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