Will You Be Convicted?

I’ve mentioned it before, but I’m a big fan of Law and Order.  Alleged criminals are  pursued and prosecuted, based upon the evidence that the police detectives have uncovered.  All the evidence must be acquired in accordance with the law,  and to seal the deal, an irrefutable eyewitness account is essential.  The defense and prosecuting attorneys question the witnesses, and refer to the evidence, as they build their cases, the goal of which is to convince the jurors of their client’s guilt or innocence. Let’s say you are put on trial, as a suspected Christian,  is there enough evidence to convict you? Your defense attorney points to the fact that there are many witnesses who will say that you are a “good” person, with strong ties to the community.  You help those in need,  giving of your time and resources, and you attend church every Sunday.  The ruthless prosecutor, rises from his table, slyly smiles at the jury, and says, “Anyone can be a good person, Christians don‘t have a corner on that market. Most people are loving and giving, and as for sitting in church once a week, that no more makes one a Christian than sitting in a garage makes one a Buick!” The jury chuckles realizing the veracity of his comments. They deliberate in record time, coming back with a verdict of non-Christian.  Merely performing works, donating money, and doing churchy-looking stuff, doesn’t make you a child of God.  Jesus relates the story of people who were doing just this kind of thing, telling us that God, as the judge will respond, “Then I will tell them plainly, 'I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!”  I never knew you, those are harsh words, ones no person wants to hear.  Enter Jesus as the defender for all who, through faith, have given their lives to him.  No matter what charges the prosecutor comes up with, Jesus calmly tells the judge, “They are mine,  because they have chosen me through their belief, my blood has secured their salvation, and they are truly Christians.” If you are not sure, please don’t put off asking Christ into your life.  Only when you are totally committed to him will you be “convicted”. “This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but men loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil. Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that his deeds will be exposed.
But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what he has done has been done through God." John 3:19-21.