I had occasion to go to court this week. I'd gotten a ticket driving in an unfamiliar area (of course) coming home from helping someone (of course). Now. I've had tickets before and 1 just paid them, because what I was accused of I had done, but this time was different. This time, I felt I was innocent. So I opted to go before the judge.

Going to traffic court was scary, I hadn't been in one for about 15-20 years. When I went to court for Dave, it was always scary because the judge held our family in his hands and could have gone any which way in the name of "fairness." So now, any magistrate makes me worry a little. After all, you're the one on trial here. Even though they say if you've done nothing wrong you have nothing to fear, I still got the ticket!

What was interesting was the folks who also showed up. Some brought lawyers and held themselves apart from everyone else. Some were friendly, some were like me, very reserved and quiet. I heard many talking up how they were going to "beat the ticket" by giving the judge a story that was going to cast doubt in his mind. Some felt they were in the right even though they had since studied and found out that they were not. How were they to know? Some planned on telling lies, some planned on just omitting certain things (the "I don't know" defense). Some had legit complaints, and I wondered how they got tickets at all. Most talked freely and out loud, so they apparently didn't fear the judge would hear their scheming beforehand.

One guy got a ticket because his truck's inspection sticker had expired. Fine, except the truck was parked in his driveway and (according to him) had not moved from that spot in over a year. Huh? One lady on a cell phone ran over a curb and onto a sidewalk. She was going to claim the sun was in her eyes thus it wasn't her fault. A guy next to me, though, like me had no real story to tell. He simply didn't do what he was accused of, and had no idea what to tell the judge. One guy was guilty but had no defense, just intended to plead for a lesser charge because he was poor.

Here's what I observed. Those who had stories to tell the judge came out of his courtroom after a time complaining to their new "friends" (those who had listened and nodded when they \vent in) that the judge was unfair and unreasonable! He also questioned and made a big deal out of things that "weren't part of the story". These, as you could guess, had to pay a fine.

Those who had little to say, even that guy who had no defense, came back quickly. Almost every one of them had their case dismissed. Like magic, the judge knew those who were innocent, showed mercy to those who needed it, yet passed judgment on those who were guilty. It didn't hurt in my case that this was my first in almost 10 years living here.

God is compared to a judge, or rather described as a judge. I think I've seen a glimpse of judgment day, at least a flickering shadow of it. Some will come full of themselves, thinking they could talk their way into heaven. Look at all the good they did (but let's not focus on the parts omitted, shall we?) Yet that "unfair and unreasonable" judge will make a big deal out of things they don't want brought up, and they will have to pay.

God will look at those who are innocent and know it. Not those who thought they were innocent but were merely ignorant of the law. Those will be found guilty of the law. But the truly innocent will be made free.

Yet some will stand before the judge, and he will grant them mercy. They will not be flawless, indeed in a past life (such as in CO) they may have had a couple tickets, but they put that old body away and have been living for God. A witness will be there, who's voice they will know and he will know them. The judge's son, who he loves. No one is worthy or deserving of heaven, but because of his testimony there will be justice, and mercy.

Randy