Do you like a good Just-Suppose story? You may find this one interesting. It’s about you.
After a long, harried day with more than a few frustrations, you finally fall asleep.
You dream, imagining you live in a country ruled by a king. You’ve never met, although you’ve heard about him. Some details seem disturbing, some delightful. A few of the older folks say he’s quite fussy about people keeping his laws, but you’ve never bothered much about that.
He’s been away for some time, but to everyone’s surprise he’s suddenly returned. And, of all things, you’ve been summoned to meet him!
You can’t keep the king waiting. You remember you’ve been warned to have an outfit ready, something the king would find right for the occasion. Unfortunately you’ve just been so busy with important things like… Well, they probably weren’t THAT important.
You feel panic rising in your throat as you paw through your wardrobe. What can you wear?
Ah, there! That white jacket you almost forgot you had. You spent quite the time and expense to actually make it yourself, and it received many compliments over the years.
Hurriedly you dress and do a once-over in the mirror. If only you had more time to prepare.
Just then you see a few small blood-red spots on the jacket. Wine splashes from an old party? Never mind. No one will notice in the crowd.
Before long, you find yourself in the receiving line, inching closer to the king. Everyone else, like you, seems preoccupied. Whatever will you say? You should have spent more time reading his biography so you knew more about him. But not to worry. You’ve been a pretty good subject, trying to be decent with others.
But you ARE worried. You keep remembering all those things you did that you knew were wrong. Little white lies, you called them—but more like the little scarlet droplets on your outfit.
The closer you get, the more your memory is firing. Those hasty, angry words. Those filthy thoughts. The time you fudged on your income tax. But thankfully nobody knows.
You’re almost feeling relaxed when suddenly it’s your turn. The king, to your surprise, has a very kind face. But as he turns his attention to you, horror contorts his countenance.
“Your Majesty, what is it?”
“Your garment,” he responds, his voice reverberating like a waterfall. “Filthy rags covered in scarlet stains! Crimson blotches all over. How could you think this was acceptable?”
At that moment you remember two sentences from the king’s biography, shared with you years ago: “All of us have become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous acts are like filthy rags” (Isaiah 64:6) And the other? “‘Let us settle the matter,’ says the Lord. ‘Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool.’” (1:18) Unfortunately, you’ve just been too busy.
Suddenly you awaken, drenched in sweat. It’s not too late! You grab your dust-covered Bible and read, “Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God.” (1 Peter 3:18) And this: “As many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God” (John 1:12).
Don’t. Just. Suppose.
Article by Jabe Nicholson first published in the Commercial Dispatch, Saturday, July 13, 2024.