My Day in Court

For a reason that I will tell you about shortly, my thoughts went back to my younger days of being, well, younger.  Back to my early driving days. I must have been 16 or 17…..

I had just left the church building after a night of worship.  The speed limit from the church building all the way to my house, which was about 2 miles maybe 3, was 25MPH.  Much, much to slow for a 16 or 17 y/o who already knew all there was to know about driving.  If you are laughing, I know it’s not at me, it’s with me. I’m sure we’ve all been there.

I must have traveled 500 yards from the church building when in my rear-view mirror I saw these blue flashes of light.  As there was no one in front of me, and no one between me and the blue lights, I assumed that those pretty lights were meant for me, and I just about threw up.  Nerves are a funny thing.

My assumptions were correct.  One of those times I wish my assumptions were off, way off.  To make a long story short, I was going 35 (best I can recall) in a 25 and the officer told me I had a date.  No, not with his pretty daughter or his ugly daughter for that matter. A date with the judge. 

This judge wasn’t just a judge, it was Judge Chamberlain.  Judge Chamberlain was/is one of the elders of the church.  Yeah. I know.  Talk about throwing up. I was nervous for a very long time until that date came.

I don’t remember much about my day in court.  I do remember being scared to death.  It was my first ticket.  It was my first (and only) appearance in court and it was the first time I would get to see what Judge Chamblerlain did for a living, first hand.

Judge Chamberlain announced at the very beginning of court that those who were there for there first ticket would probably not have to pay anything and get off…this time.  It would be decided on a case by case basis though.

Great!  He couldn’t just let me run out of the court room with my tail between my legs.  I would have to “appear” before him first.  I would have to give him my account  of what happened.  I think I did that.  The whole thing becomes a blur.   When I walked in, I was ready to run.  When he called out “MR. CARVER!”, I could hardly stand, my knees were shaking so bad.  I don’t remember what he said.  I only remember the gavel falling and then I ran out the door with my tail between my legs.

My mother worked on the opposite end of the square and I told her about my venture and she asked if I had to pay anything and I seem to recall saying, “I don’t think so.”  Yeah, she had to call back over to the courthouse to make sure I didn’t have any fees to pay.  How horrible that day was.

Today I’ve been reading Romans.  I am “teaching” the book in my Sunday morning class.  In my reading today, I came across the following verses, Romans 14:10-12:

  “10 You, then, why do you judge your brother?  Or why do you look down on your brother? For we will all stand before God’s judgment seat. 
   11 It is written:
      ‘As surely as I live, says the Lord, every knee will bow before me; every tongue will confess to God.’
  12 So, then, each of us will give an account of himself to God.”

I had that same nervous feeling for some reason.  To think that I will still have my final day in court. I will stand before the final Judge and will, with my own mouth, give an account for myself to God. Those aren’t just words, that’s a reality.  That is going to be as real as the day I appeared before Judge Chamberlain. 

I won’t be able to run.  When the gavel falls, I will know right away what the results are.  There will be no question about it.  Oh, and all of this is something that not just I will experience.  We will all be standing in the same court room.  We will all hear our name called to stand before Him.  I’m ready.  I’m excited.  I’m nervous.  You?

Because of HIM
SC