The Case of the Sin Addict

You’re caught! You just got busted for using an illegal, addictive substance, and a sting operation nabbed you in the middle of trying to obtain more. You have been arrested and are now awaiting trial. What are you going to do?

The first thing that comes to your mind is, “I need a good lawyer.” In despair you remember that you lost the last of your paycheck in that deal that landed you here in jail. Discouragement and shame settles around you like a thick darkness as you sink deeper down into that cot in the corner. You have no one to turn to; all your friends are just like you.

Suddenly a deep, heavy voice snaps you to attention. The big man in uniform informs you that you will be going before the judge in the morning. The judge! The thought sends chills down your spine as you lay down preparing for a long night.

All night you go over the whole situation again and again, looking for some excuse to help you out. Nothing seems realistic. To make things worse you are wearing the evidence! You think of those unmistakable stains that cover your clothes and shudder at the thought of standing before the judge. After a seemly endless night, you hear the distinct sound of keys jingling.

The door to your cell opens and two guards enter to escort you out.

“Your time has come, let’s go!” snaps one of the guards.

Through long hallways and winding staircases you are led until you finally arrive at the door. As the guard calls out his name, the great door slowly opens. You gasp as you see the great walls of the room; it seems large enough to fit millions of people. You are seated but still wondering out loud: What is this place?

Suddenly a voice calls, “Arise before the Honorable Judge!” Standing you see a flash of light that explodes into the room and your legs collapse beneath you. Everything is violently shaking—including you, as the judge is seated. The guards pull you to your feet and support you as the judge calls your name. Weakly you reply, “Here, your Honor.” The judge explains you have the right to a trial by jury and the right to an attorney.

“Would you like an attorney?” the voice of the judge rolls down and vibrates to your very core like the peals of thunder. Unable to force yourself to speak, you nod your head. Terrified to look at the judge, you finally and weakly explain that you have no money to hire an attorney. “Call in the Public Defender!” the voice again vibrates through the courtroom.

As a door opens, hope for the first time washes over you. Your new attorney enters the room, and he must be the best looking man you have ever seen! He wears clothes so expensive that they seem priceless, and a woven belt of pure gold. An impressive sight indeed as he takes his place next to you. At first you feel that you’re already pardoned but, as your eyes drop and you see those stained clothes, fear returns. You realize once again that you are wearing the evidence.

The prosecution starts with energy that seems to know no bounds. As he reads from a seemingly endless list of crimes, your memory arouses. How does he know all this stuff?

“Silence!” The gavel slams down. “Be seated.” The voice of the judge thunders. Meekly the prosecution sits down, so shaken he seems to have no desire to object.

“Your Honor,” your attorney begins, “those clothes are mine.” A look of shock comes across your face as you glance up at him. He repeats himself again and you realize you were not mistaken. He is pointing at you.

The judge orders the stained dirty clothes to be removed, and then the priceless clothing of your attorney is placed upon you. Adoring the beautiful clothing, for a moment you forget where you are and feel transported to a land of eternal bliss. As you turn to show your new friend the perfect fit, tears fill your eyes.

“No,” you cry out in desperation, “Not you!” He is standing there in your clothes. Why? You ask.

Wiping the tears from your eyes you look again, but this time to your horror he is bleeding. Blood gushes from his side, from his hands, feet and the temples of his noble brow. You are paralyzed with fear, the Friend you have waited for your whole life is standing before you bleeding to death. Those clothes you have worn so long are now soaked in blood.

The sight is more than you can bear, but the guards once again pull you up. With the evidence removed your case is now cleared. The judge now places you on probation and offers you a job. It is too much for you to take in all at once, but he continues. “If thou wilt walk in my ways, and if thou wilt keep my charge, then thou shalt also judge my house, and shalt also keep my courts, and I will give thee places to walk among these that stand by” (Zechariah 3:7).

The walls shake once more as the honorable judge retires, and the court session comes to a close. As the courtroom empties you feel alone, and then you see your new Friend lying on the floor with blood everywhere. “No,” falling to your knees beside Him you cry out again, “Not You!”

He is alive! It couldn’t be, but yes, He opens His eyes and looks at you. Smiling He says, “I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore” (Revelation 1:18).

You apologize profusely that you caused Him so much trouble. He says simply, “Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more” (John 8:11). You are about to promise the world that you’ll never do anything bad again, but you stop. “I am addicted,” you stutter, trying to compose yourself. “I can’t do it myself. I am an addict!”

“Yes I know,” He says with compassion, “I have arranged to move in, if you are willing. I am also an expert Counselor, Physician, and Probation Officer. You have no need to worry as long as you stay close to me. I will get you safely through your probation without any incident, but if you leave me you will return to your old ways. You have my word that I will do everything in my power to help you. You are a new creature: “old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new” (2 Corinthians 5:17). The days ahead will be a struggle, and there will be many things that you will have to suffer. No matter how hard it is, you have my pledge, “I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee” (Hebrews 13:5)