Monday, November 19, 2007

A really bad elevator ride

Imagine yourself at the county court house. You're expected to appear before the judge as he is requiring from you an accounting of some important information. You definitely want to make a good impression.

As you enter the building and step onto the elevator, you are joined by several people. They are then forced to listen while you begin to complain about the great inconvenience of your appointment. Furthermore you begin to unload every criticism you have ever had about this particular judge with his many harsh verdicts. The ride to the judge's floor seems to take forever. All the while you don't cease voicing your dissatisfaction with your lot in life, as if somehow everything is the judge's fault. The more you vent, the angrier you become.

The elevator door finally opens and your captive audience goes their way, certainly glad not to have to hear anymore of your rants. Then as you approach the place of your appointment, you suddenly notice to your horror that the man standing at your side in the elevator just a moment ago is the judge you are scheduled to meet! Your incriminating words are history, and their damage has been done. It's too late to retrieve them, for they have been heard by the judge himself.

"The tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity; so is the tongue among our members, that it defileth the whole body, and setteth on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire of hell. Therewith bless we God, and therewith curse we men." (James 3:6,9)

"Be ye also patient; establish your hearts: for the coming of the Lord draweth nigh. Grudge not one against another, brethren, lest ye be condemned: behold, the judge standeth before the door." (James 5:8,9)

"Wherefore we labor, that, whether present or absent, we may be accepted of him. For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ." (II Cor. 5:9,10)

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