Previous Challenge Entry (Level 2 – Intermediate)
Topic: Good and Bad (05/07/09)
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TITLE: Souls For Sale | Previous Challenge Entry
By Clayton Webb
05/14/09 -
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“I think he is guilty.”
“He has to be, or else he wouldn’t be here.”
These comments unnerved me. But I didn’t doubt my innocence.
“All rise for the judge.”
An aged figure walked out into the open. He wore the traditional long black robe, a direct contrast to his snow-white beard and long curly white hair. He looked ancient, yet he seemed ageless.
He took a seat in front of me at the enormous wooden bench. He gazed at me, picked up the gavel and slammed it down on the hard wooden surface. It sounded like a clap of thunder and every voice was silenced.
“Court is now is session. We are here to determine whether this man, John Smith sold his soul to the devil.” His intense stare fell upon me once more. “These are serious charges, how do you plea?”
It took me only a moment to formulate an answer, “I am innocent of all charges. I believe, in fact, I have lived a very good Christian life.” I had indeed.
“And you have chosen to decline counsel?” The judge asked.
“I have nothing to hide and I am innocent.” Another good answer, I thought. “In fact, if you will allow me to proceed. I can clear these charges up with but a few words.”
The hushed voices were once again audible as murmurs passed through the crowd. The gavel slammed down on the desk again. Silence.
“Ladies and gentlemen, I am a good man. I am an upstanding member of the community. I don’t drink in excess and I have never even tried drugs.” I looked at the judge, no response. “I have fed the homeless, I give tithes every week at church, I donate to numerous charities, I have never cheated on my wife, and I don’t even hate my neighbor. Now I find these charges absurd, to say that I sold my soul to the devil. I couldn’t even tell you what the devil looked like, least of all have ever signed a contract that involved my soul!” I paused to allow the court time to eat from my outstretched fingers. “I can assure you that I have never signed any such contract with ink, blood, or any other medium. I am an innocent man!” I could not hide my smile. I am a great lawyer.
“Is this your defense?” The judge’s voice boomed.
“Ah…yes.”
“So do you deny that you love the world more than you love the Lord your God?”
“I guess…well, yes I deny it.” The temperature in the room had risen noticeably.
“So, you deny that you drink in excess every Friday night after work. You deny that you give to the poor and the church merely for tax credit, that you watch pornography and fantasize about other women than your wife, and that you have stolen from your neighbor on several different occasions when you thought no one was looking?”
“Well…ah…I may have, but there were…er there were mitigating circumstances.” I felt trapped.
“You may not have ever actually signed a contract, but I say to you now that you have given your soul freely to the devil with your love of worldly things. You can save yourself if you invite Jesus into your heart, you will be forgiven. Then if you give up the world you can be spared the inevitable eternal torment of your soul. Do you repent?”
I thought long and hard. His demands were ridiculous. How could I give up everything, everything I had worked so hard for? There were too many things that I needed, that I wanted. I couldn’t give up the power and money, I wouldn’t! “I am sorry to say sir that I cannot.”
The patrons of the court erupted in verbal outrage. I could see tears begin to roll down the judge’s cheeks as he brought the gavel crashing down and his voice thundered, “Guilty!”
“Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it.” Matthew 7:13 (NIV)
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