As I looked around I
saw the "prosecutor,"
he was a villainous
looking gent who snarled
as he stared at me, he
definitely was the most
evil person I have ever
seen.

   I sat down and looked
to my left and there sat
my lawyer, a kind and
gentle looking man whose
appearance seemed very
familiar to me.

   The corner door flew
open and there appeared
the judge in full flowing
robes. He commanded an
awesome presence as he
moved across the room
and I couldn't take my
eyes off of him. As he
took his seat behind
the bench he said
"Let us begin."

   The prosecutor rose and
said "My name is Satan
and I am here to show
you why this man belongs
in hell." He proceeded
to tell of lies that I
told, things that I
stole and in the past
when I cheated others.
Satan told of other
terrible perversions
that were once in my
life and the more he
spoke the further down
in my seat I sank. I
was so embarrassed that
I couldn't look at anyone,
even my own lawyer, as
the Devil told of sins
that even I had completely
forgotten about.

   As upset as I was at
Satan for telling all
these things about me, I
was equally upset at my
representative who sat
there silently not
offering any form of
defense at all. I know
I had been guilty of
those things, but I
had done some good in
my life - couldn't that
at least equal out part
of the harm I've done?

   Satan finished with a
fury and said "This man
belongs in hell, he is
guilty of all that I have
charged and there is not
a person who can prove
otherwise.

   When it was his turn, my
lawyer first asked if he
might approach the bench.
The judge allowed this
over the strong objection
of Satan, and beckoned him
to come forward. As he got
up and started walking I
was able to see him now
in his full splendor and
majesty. Now I realized
why he seemed so familiar,
this was Jesus representing
me, my Lord and my Savior.

He stopped at the bench
and softly said to the judge
"Hi Dad" and then he turned
to address the court.
"Satan was correct in
saying that this man
had sinned, I won't
deny any of these
allegations. And yes
the wages of sins is
death and this man
deserves to be punished".

   Jesus took a deep breath
and turned to his Father
with outstretched arms
and proclaimed "However,
I died on the cross so
that this person might
have eternal life and
he has accepted me as
his Savior, so he is mine."

   My Lord continued with
"His name is written in
the book of life and no
one can snatch him from me.
Satan still does not
understand yet, this man
is not to be given justice
but rather mercy."
As Jesus sat down, he
quietly paused, looked
at his Father and replied
"There is nothing else
that needs to be done,
I've done it all".

   The Judge lifted his
mighty hand and slammed
the gavel down and the
following words bellowed
from his lips- "This man
is free - the penalty for
him has already been paid
in full, case dismissed."

   As my Lord led me away I
could hear Satan ranting
and raving "I won't give
up, I'll win the next one."

  I asked Jesus as He gave
me my instructions where
to go next, "Have you
ever lost a case?" Christ
lovingly smiled and said,
"Everyone that has come
to me and asked me to
represent them has received
the same verdict as you...
Paid in Full."

   In this world of terrible
hurt, pain, suffering,
and extreme self centered
focus to the exclusion of
everyone and everything
else there are times when
logic, thought, discussion,
etc. do nothing. It is in
these times I have learned
that I have only one place
to turn to ease the pain.
That is JESUS who paid it all.