A defendant stands before the judge awaiting punishment for the despicable crimes he committed. He still wears the dirty clothes that bear the marks of his crimes. The criminal has been found guilty. He deserves the death penalty. Before the judge can make his judgment, another man enters the courtroom. This man is impeccably dressed in bright white clothing. The intruder speaks to the judge with an unexpected familiarity. He offers to exchange clothes with the defendant, taking on the clothing soiled by crimes and giving the defendant his perfect white clothes. Beyond that, the intruder requests that the judgment be assessed to himself and that the defendant be set free. There is no reason for the intruder to make such a generous offer. The defendant certainly doesn’t deserve this sacrifice. But the judge, knowing the spotless character of the intruder, agrees to accept the offer. The defendant is set free and the intruder is punished by death.
While not a true story, you may recognize its meaning. The judge is our Heavenly Father. Each of us is the defendant. We have each committed crimes, that is sins, against the Father. We deserve the sentence of death. But the courtroom intruder has entered and made the offer to take our place. In fact, He has already done so, by bearing our sins and suffering the punishment. So our sins have been taken away and placed on Him. In addition, the Father has freely declared us not guilty, because we are now dressed in the garments of His Son’s righteousness.
Romans 3:23-24 says, “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus.” One thing remains to be done. We have to accept the free gift offered to us by Jesus. The defendant is not set free until he accepts the intruder’s offer. And we are not forgiven, redeemed and justified until we accept the offer of God’s Son.
Reluctant Retiree 