Paid In Full

A short story given to me many years ago, by a aged pastor.

                                                       PAID IN FULL

After living what I felt was a "decent" life, my time on earth came to the end.

The first thing I remember is sitting on a bench in the waiting room of what I thought to be a court house. The doors opened and I was instructed to come in and have a seat by the defense table.
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 Attorney, a kind and gentle looking man whose appearance seemed so familiar to me, I felt I knew Him.
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 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 woman 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 horrible 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 up anyone, even my own Attorney, 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 Attorney 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'd done?

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

When it was His turn, my Attorney first asked if He might approach the bench.
The Judge allowed this over the strong objections of Satan, and beckoned Him to come forward. As He got up and started walking, I was able to see Him in His full splendor and majesty.

I realized why He seemed so familiar, this was Jesus representing me, my Lord and my Saviour.

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 woman had sinned, I won't deny any of these allegations".

And, yes, the wage of sin is death, and this woman 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 she has accepted Me as her Saviour, so she is Mine"

My Lord continued with, "Her name is written in the Book of Life, and no one can snatch her from Me. Satan still does not understand yet. This woman is not to be given justice, but rather mercy"

As Jesus sat down, He quietly paused, looked at His Father and said, "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. The following words bellowed from His lips:

"This woman is free"

The penalty for her 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 will 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!!

Indeed, this is I; in every sense of the word. Praise to the Father, for the Son: Forever more. 

Lu 7:37 And, behold, a woman in the city, which was a sinner, when she knew that Jesus sat at meat in the Pharisee's house, brought an alabaster box of ointment, 
Lu 7:38 And stood at his feet behind him weeping, and began to wash his feet with tears, and did wipe them with the hairs of her head, and kissed his feet, and anointed them with the ointment. 
Lu 7:39 Now when the Pharisee which had bidden him saw it, he spake within himself, saying, This man, if he were a prophet, would have known who and what manner of woman this is that toucheth him: for she is a sinner. 
Lu 7:40 And Jesus answering said unto him, Simon, I have somewhat to say unto thee. And he saith, Master, say on. 
Lu 7:41 There was a certain creditor which had two debtors: the one owed five hundred pence, and the other fifty. 
Lu 7:42 And when they had nothing to pay, he frankly forgave them both. Tell me therefore, which of them will love him most? 
Lu 7:43 Simon answered and said, I suppose that he, to whom he forgave most. And he said unto him, Thou hast rightly judged. 
Lu 7:44 And he turned to the woman, and said unto Simon, Seest thou this woman? I entered into thine house, thou gavest me no water for my feet: but she hath washed my feet with tears, and wiped them with the hairs of her head. 
Lu 7:45 Thou gavest me no kiss: but this woman since the time I came in hath not ceased to kiss my feet. 
Lu 7:46 My head with oil thou didst not anoint: but this woman hath anointed my feet with ointment. 
Lu 7:47 Wherefore I say unto thee, Her sins, which are many, are forgiven; for she loved much: but to whom little is forgiven, the same loveth little. 
Lu 7:48 And he said unto her, Thy sins are forgiven. 
Lu 7:49 And they that sat at meat with him began to say within themselves, Who is this that forgiveth sins also? 
Lu 7:50 And he said to the woman, Thy faith hath saved thee; go in peace.