J.D.

Red lights flashed in my rear view mirror. My stomach began to flip flop. I knew that I had done something wrong. The police officer approached my window. I tried to smile, "Hello!"

"You turned left and there was a 'No Left Turn' sign. Let me see your driver's license and owner's certificate," the officer said.

I tried to explain that I didn't see the sign and that I turned on to a road that was only busy during the week. Today was Sunday. He just smirked, handed me my ticket, and growled, "Fight it in court if you want."

I decided that I could. I called the 35th District Court in town. The court clerk gave me an appointment to plead my case. As the day drew near, I planned and rehearsed my speech for the judge. Finally my day in court arrived. I walked into a full court room and waited. One by one the people stepped before the magistrate. Finally, it was my turn. "Next case please. Come forward!" I stepped quickly and confidently up to the front of the court room. Everyone seemed quiet behind me.

The judge spoke sternly. "Sir, according to the report from the officer, you received a ticket for turning left where there is a 'No Left Turn' sign posted. What do you have to say for yourself?"

I cleared my throat and then began my speech. I agreed with the officer's report. My argument was that the sign didn't matter since it was not a busy time on that road. I felt that the sign and the law really were not that important since there was no traffic. I thought that I sounded good.

The judge scanned the report one last time, raised his head, pulled off his glasses, and looked straight at me. "Sir, you have no defense!"

According to the Bible, you have been in a court case. You have been in God's courtroom. You have been charged with breaking God's law. You can't claim that you have never told a lie, hated someone, been proud, or wanted something that wasn't your own. Romans 3:19 tells us that God, the judge, has declared that "all the world is guilty before God." We don't like to admit our guilt. Often we try to make excuses such as, "Those sins aren't that bad." Or, "I couldn't help it." At times we say, "Others are worse than I am", or "It's my parent's fault." We need to admit our guilt before God. God has declared that "You have no defense."

When sinners stand before God, "every mouth will be stopped" (Romans 3:19), and every one will find that he has no defense. To those who find out now that they have no excuse for their sin, God has a Savior - His Son.

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