Resignation

Author name withheld, written by a student after he tried to take his own life.

At the end of time, on the last day when all of mankind were being called to give account of themselves before God, one man was being interrogated by the Lord God. The man concerned had tried to tender his resignation from life.

The man now stood before all of heaven and of the world, both those who died before Jesus Christ returned, and those who had been alive on His return. A heavenly servant was reading out an account of this incident before the assembly of Heaven and Earth.

"You, sir, are called to account of the time when you attempted to end your life before the time decreed in God's plan. Many of your family and close friends were badly hurt by this incident and you are accordingly charged with the following crimes.

"One, causing undue upset and sadness around you.
"Two, attempting to breach one of the ten commandments of the Law given by God to His servant Moses. The commandment in question is 'Thou shalt not kill.'
"Three, abuse of a gift from God. The gift of being alive.
"How do you plead?"

The man stood with his head bowed. Finally, he answered: "Guilty of the crimes you describe, but I wish to offer some remarks in my defence."

The heavenly servant looked at the Lord God for approval of this request. The Lord God nodded. His Son, the Lord Jesus, seated at His right hand, raised an eye brow. The angels muttered to each other. The Lord God looked straight at the Holy Spirit. An unheard communication passed between them. The Holy Spirit inclined His head in agreement, got up and walked up to the man and then put an arm around the man's shoulder. The man looked at the Spirit in surprise and the thanked God for sending His Spirit to stand with him and to comfort him.

The man began his defence. "To the most high God, the Son of God, the Holy Spirit, all Heaven and all Mankind, I make my defence, offer my plea for forgiveness of sins I have committed against you, and give an account of the unhappiest time of my life."

"When I was a young man, many things were expected of me. Many challenges and tests were presented to me. Many demons and evil spirits of the one expelled from Heaven attacked me. I met all the tests and tried my hardest to meet up to the expectations of those around me. I would like to think people left me thinking: "At least he tried." Because, I tried my best. I really tried, at all times I tried to do the right thing. I humbly apologise for the sins I committed and admit them to all assembled here. I plead guilty and ask for forgiveness for the one time in my life when I was so low and so burdened that the strength required to continue was more than me. I was never good enough, I never totally stood up to the expectations of those around me. I always did my best and tried to follow each challenge to and very often a very bitter end. I admit my anger, my selfishness with which I am charged, and respectfully point out that you had better add being human to the list of charges brought against me. Also add 'failure to be perfect.' I kept the Lord Jesus, my master as my example and I say again, I tried. If that is insufficient I apologise. Here ends my defence, commit then to Hell, for I am guilty."

Then the man bowed his head again. The Lord God Almighty stood to His feet to speak. "My Son", He said, addressing Jesus, "Now you may judge this man as I promised you that you could. How do you sentence him?"

Jesus now spoke, pointing at the man who stood with his head bowed. "Thank you, my Father, thank you for keeping your promises, thank you for your love and justness. I will now reexamine the evidence placed before us on this great and glorious day.

"The charges placed before this man are true and his life shows that he is undoubtedly guilty of them. However, these are only his crimes, and whilst committing a sin makes him guilty of them all, there is more than one occasion when he stepped out in faith and followed me. When I called to him, he came to me. When I ordered him, he obeyed me. When I asked if he believed I was who I said I was, in faith, he believed. I pronounce him guilty of the crimes he has committed, but He is mine, because he believed in faith and has humbled himself before Me. I have paid the price for his redemption, I paid the price to set him free of his sins and the consequence of his sins. Because he has accepted me in his heart, and not only in his mind, I can allow him to receive my forgiveness."

Jesus' pointing finger now beckoned the man. And he said "Come my child, your faith and humbleness have set you free. Come and join my people. I have new tasks for you to do now."

The man looked up with tears in his eyes and walked towards Jesus as his dull clothes slowly became brilliantly white. He went and stood with the crowd who had been Judged and set free. As he looked around, he saw men and women from his earlier life and from the time of his great sadness, and from those who had known him in his last years. "Surely not you?!" He exclaimed to a familiar face.

"Yes!", replied an old adversary, "Even me, I thought about what you said that night you spoke to me about the gospel, and I asked the Lord Jesus into my life."

The man looked around, everywhere were people he had known. "What? You?!"

"Yes, I was there when you spoke at that fellowship meeting. It bugged me for days, I couldn't keep running from God."

"And you! Why did you decide?"

"You held me when I was hurt, and I couldn't understand why you cared. When you said that it was not from you, but from God, it started me thinking."

Just then, the Lord God spoke. "There will be time enough for reunion later." He said, smiling. "But there are others to be tried and judged. Next person, please!"

What will happen at your trial?

All articles are (c) their respective authors, and appeared in, or were submitted for the Christian Friendship magazine published in Immingham, England, 1989-1990.
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