Judge or Savior
The story is told of a drowning man... He'd been fishing and his boat capsized. He's flailing in the water shouting for help. A passing motorist stops, throws his a life preserver and pulls him to safety.
The motorist builds a fire to help warm the man up while his clothes dry out. They have a good conversation for a good portion of time. Once the man is put back together, they part on friendly terms, each going their separate ways.
After several years the fisherman commits a crime and is hauled in before the judge.
Much to the man's surprise the judge is the same man, the motorist, who stopped to pull him out of the water years before.
"Judge, do you remember me? I'm the guy you pulled from the river those many years ago?" He's thinking of course they had built at least a bit of a relationship, just maybe this judge will remember and wink at the crime...
"Yes, indeed I do remember you," the judge says sadly. "Son, I can't help you now. You see, when I pulled you from the water, I was your savior. This time a crime has been committed. Justice is demanded, and now I am your judge."
I have heard this illustration only once, but it has remained in my memory as a powerful reminder of our relationship with Jesus.
I try to do a daily Bible reading that takes me through the Old and New Testament in the year. That means I read approximately three chapters in the Old Testament, and one chapter in the New Testament.
Each year I seem to gather new jewels to put in my bag of gems. This morning I read Matthew 22:
Matthew 22:1 "And Jesus answered and spake again in parables unto them, saying, 2) The kingdom of heaven is likened unto a certain king, who made a marriage feast for his son, 3) and sent forth his servants to call them that were bidden to the marriage feast: and they would not come.
4) Again he sent forth other servants, saying, Tell them that are bidden, Behold, I have made ready my dinner; my oxen and my fatlings are killed, and all things are ready: come to the marriage feast. 5) But they made light of it, and went their ways, one to his own farm, another to his merchandise;
6) and the rest laid hold on his servants, and treated them shamefully, and killed them. 7) But the king was wroth; and he sent his armies, and destroyed those murderers, and burned their city. 8) Then saith he to his servants, The wedding is ready, but they that were bidden were not worthy.
9) Go ye therefore unto the partings of the highways, and as many as ye shall find, bid to the marriage feast. 10) And those servants went out into the highways, and gathered together all as many as they found, both bad and good: and the wedding was filled with guests. 11) But when the king came in to behold the guests, he saw there a man who had not on a wedding-garment: 12) and he saith unto him, Friend, how camest thou in hither not having a wedding-garment? And he was speechless.
13) Then the king said to the servants, Bind him hand and foot, and cast him out into the outer darkness; there shall be the weeping and the gnashing of teeth. 14) For many are called, but few chosen.
Ever wondered why the guest who had not on the wedding garment was, first speechless, and second cast into outer darkness?
There are those who say you have to do nothing except believe. This parable shows belief will get you close to where you want to be, but without preparation (ie. The wedding garment that God Himself provides. As in putting on Jesus in baptism) you will be speechless— Unable to have a good answer.
1 Peter 3:15 "but sanctify in your hearts Christ as Lord: being ready always to give answer to every man that asketh you a reason concerning the hope that is in you, yet with meekness and fear:"
