by Max Lucado
Sometime
ago I read a story of a youngster who was shooting rocks with a
slingshot. He could never hit his target. As he returned to Grandma's
backyard, he spied her pet duck. On impulse he took aim and let fly.
The stone hit, and the duck was dead. The boy panicked and hid the bird
in the woodpile, only to look up and see his sister watching.
After lunch that day, Grandma told Sally to help with the dishes.
Sally responded, "Johnny told me he wanted to help in the kitchen
today. Didn't you Johnny?" And she whispered to him, "Remember the
duck!" So, Johnny did the dishes.
What choice did he have? For the next several weeks he was at the
sink often. Sometimes for his duty, sometimes for his sin. "Remember
the duck," Sally'd whisper when he objected.
So weary of the chore, he decided that any punishment would be
better than washing more dishes, so he confessed to killing the duck.
"I know, Johnny," his grandma said, giving him a hug. "I was standing
at the window and saw the whole thing. Because I love you, I forgave
you. I wondered how long you would let Sally make a slave out of you." (Steven Cole, "Forgiveness," Leadership Magazine, 1983, 86.)
He'd been pardoned, but he thought he was guilty. Why? He had listened to the words of his accuser.
You have been accused as well. You have been accused of dishonesty.
You've been accused of immorality. You've been accused of greed, anger,
and arrogance.
moment of your life, your accuser is filing charges against you. Even
his name, Diabolos, means "slanderer." Who is he? The devil.
As he speaks, you hang your head. You have no defense. His charges are fair. "I plead guilty, your honor," you mumble.
"The sentence?" Satan asks.
"The wages of sin is death," explains the judge, "but in this case
the death has already occurred. For this one died with Christ."
Satan is suddenly silent. And you are suddenly jubilant. You realize
that Satan cannot accuse you. No one can accuse you! Fingers may point
and voices may demand, but the charges glance off like arrows hitting a
shield. No more dirty dishwater. No more penance. No more nagging
sisters. You have stood before the judge and heard him declare, "Not
guilty."
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