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| The Light |
I then began to speak, but as the words formed in my mouth there was a voice from the light that was deep forceful and powerful that said, “You are not to speak. You are here to listen.” So I closed my mouth and sat quietly waiting to hear. The voice then spoke, “This is the day that we will review the transgressions from your life.” I thought to myself, “I’m a good man. I don’t try to hurt anyone. I love people. What transgressions can he be talking about?” And the voice spoke again, “You shall see today what transgressions you have done throughout your life.” So again I sat quietly, trying not even to think now.
Then from somewhere a very loud sound came, like a large gavel hitting wood. And the voice said, “We shall proceed.” Then I noticed to my left another man sitting at a table similar to the one I was at. He though was not dressed in white. He wore a fashionable and elegant black suit. He looked at me and gave me a big smile. His teeth were beautiful and perfect, completely white. As he smiled I felt a tremor go through my body and then the voice again, “You may proceed with your accusations.”
So began my trial. I had no idea what I was on trial for, but this was clearly a trial. Now worried that there was really some terrible thing about to occur, fear started to creep into my mind and heart. Not being able to see into the light, I looked to my left again and the gentleman in black just smiled at me. A smiled filled with animosity and hate and eyes taunting me, filled with a sense of victory. As the trial proceeded images flashed upon a screen, they were so real I thought I could touch them. There were scenes from my childhood, from my adolescence, from my teenage years and from my young adulthood even scenes from a few days before. Time and again there was an event that didn’t reflect the goodness of who I thought I was. Time and again there was something that I thought was inconsequential, but when viewed I realized that it was not good.
Slowly I raised my hand and the voice said, “Yes.” And I said, “Please dear sir can you tell me what you mean by transgressions.” The man to the left chuckled a bit and the voice replied, “Anything that misses the mark.”
I raised my hand a little higher and the voice said, “Yes.” And I said, “What is the mark?” The voice said, “It is the perfection of God as shown by the Ten Commandments. You are familiar with the Ten Commandments, are you not.”
Sheepishly I dropped my head with my hand falling at my side and I nodded. And the voice said, “Speak up we can’t hear you.” With my head still down, I quietly muttered, “Yes.” And the voice grew louder, “We cannot hear you speak up.” I said softly, “Yes.” Still louder the voice said, “We cannot hear you. Raise your face and speak out loud.” So I raised my head and said, “Yes.” And the voice said, “Yes what?” Staring directly at the light feeling my life so totally exposed I said, “Yes, I know the Ten Commandments.” With that the man to my left, the man in black, started to dance joyfully.
As I sat there I thought, “If I was on the jury, I would convict me.” Slowly I raised my hand and said, “Is this a jury trial in front of my peers?” And the voice said calmly with force, “I am your judge.” My hand fell to the table and I knew that I would be convicted. There was nothing that I could do to change the things that I had already done. I had no idea what the punishment would be. Something inside seemed to accept that no matter what the punishment was it would be just and right and true.
The two large men remained standing next to me during this whole proceeding which seemed as if it had taken a whole day. I noticed them then turn and look to the back of the room from which I had come. I realized that there were two huge doors at the back of the room. They slowly began to move and as they opened I saw a man step through the threshold. He too was dressed in white. I noticed immediately the beauty of his smile and the warmth of his eyes. As he walked toward me I felt peace even though I had just been convicted in my heart. He stopped about half way and looking into the light he said, “I’ve come to defend this man if he will have me.” And the voice said, “Come and speak to him and see what he will say.”
So this man came and sat in the chair next to me. Drawing close to me, he put his cheek upon mine and said this simple thing, “I’ve come to save you. I’ve come to save you. All you need to do is accept me and when we are done go and tell the world about who I am.” And I asked, “That is all?” He smiled so deeply and warmly drawing me immediately to him, “There will be more. There will be much more but this you will do with a willing and loving heart.” I looked at him and studied him for a moment. As I looked into his eyes I felt such compassion. I felt such acceptance and love. I felt peace, an all-consuming peace. There was not a hint of rejection although he must have known of the transgressions that had been shown to me. For what other reason would he be here and say that he could save me, except that he knew. With tears forming in my eyes and my gaze still locked on him, I said, “I accept your offer.”
He turned to the light and he stood saying to the light, “May I approach you?” And the voice said, “Come forward.” He moved in front of the platform and as he stood there he said, “I have seen this man’s transgressions and I willingly and fully accept them as my own. I will take the punishment that he so deserves.” As he said I will accept the punishment, a red tear appeared in the back of his white robe and clearly it was blood. The blood began to run down his robe. Then another tear and then another tear and then another and soon the back of his robe was so torn that it fell to the ground leaving exposed raw flesh. The blood continued to pour from his wounds.
He then turned to me and extended his arms and hands. I could see holes in his hands and blood was running from them as well. He smiled at me and said, “Rejoice, for I shed my blood so that you could be free. I shed my blood so that you could know My Father. I shed My blood because I love you. I shed My blood because you are important to Me and My Father. I shed My blood so that you can be in heaven for eternity. With that He came back to my table. He put His arms around me and simply said, “I love you.” A Dove flew from the light and settled upon this beautiful Man holding me now. And the Voice said, “This is My Son, in whom I am well pleased. He has paid your penalty and He has set you free. You are no longer bound by these transgressions of your life and you are free.” I again heard this loud bang as a large gavel fell heavily upon wood.
The Voice spoke to the man in black directing him, “This man belongs to my Son the Lord Jesus Christ. He is protected by Jesus’ blood from now until forever. You no longer have any dominion over him.”
Startled, I blinked and then realized that I had never left my seat. The vision was so vivid and so powerful that I knew it really wasn’t a dream. Although I knew it was not in the physical realm, I also knew that it was real. Overcome with emotion, I fell to my knees and cried out to God as a man pardoned from a horrible death.
