THE FINAL CHECK-OUT

A solemn hush came over the crowded courtroom as the presiding judge came in and took his seat. Ben, the man in the dock below him, had been found guilty of killing an officer of the law, and today sentence was to be passed on him.

As the judge looked down upon Ben, he was moved with deep emotion. During his university days, Ben had been one of his fellow students, they had known each other well. The judge had prospered in his chosen profession and was now a judge of the high court. Ben had turned aside to a life of crime which had now resulted in the slaying of a police officer.

In a voice charged with emotion the judge asked, "Ben, do you remember the last time we met?"  

"Yes, your honour,"  Ben replied, "I remember very well. I was in trouble with the law and you rescued me. You took me to your room and pleaded with me to turn back from the path I was taking. How I wish now that I had followed your advice. "

"If only you had, Ben,"  the judge replied, "if only you had. Back there I was able to save you from your foolishness, but it is too late now. I would give my right arm to be able to save you now, but it is too late Ben, it is too late. Today I must be your judge. "

Ben's life style had been governed by the wrong choices he had made for himself, and now it had caught up with him. He had to pay the price and reap what he had sown. But, before we pass hasty judgement on Ben, should we not ask ourselves, "What choices govern my life style?"  

"In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth."  This is the opening sentence of the Bible. If this is true, is it not logical that God should have some say in how we live? To the many people who daily read the Bible, God is no myth, and the Bible, far from being old fashioned and out of date, is practical, clear and very relevant in today's world.

Most people, however, live their lives with no reference to God at all. Many ridicule, ignore, or reject the Bible, which leaves them without any standard of right or wrong. Everyone does what is right in his own eyes, literally, anything goes. This has resulted in the very sick society which we have today. Suicide, domestic violence, homeless children, extremely low moral standards, robbery, rape, murder, national and international tension and strife, you name it, we have got it. "There is a way which seems right to a man, but in the end it leads to death" is how the Bible sums up our situation today.

Let us not fool ourselves. Just as surely as night follows day, each of us will be held responsible for the lives we have lived. The Bible says "each of us shall give an account of himself to God."  That puts it on a personal, individual basis. For instance, when we visit a supermarket and choose a range of articles from its shelves, we expect to pass through the check-out and pay for the choices we have made-true? In the same way, when our journey on earth is finished, each one of us must pass through that final great check-out before God. We will not be able to hide anything from Him. He knows everything, not one single item will be missing from the list.

Normally, we are prepared to pay for the things we choose at the supermarket. But when we come to that final check-out, of ourselves, it will be impossible for us to pay the debt we owe to God. It was because our situation was so hopeless, Jesus Christ came into the world. On the cross, He has already paid the sin debt of us all. Forgiveness is freely available to all who will repent of their sin and trust Christ as their own personal Saviour. This is the most important choice any of us will ever make. We can either trust Him or reject Him. Depending on the choice we make, at that final check-up, Jesus will be our Saviour or our Judge.

For Ben, it was too late. It need not be too late for us. "How shall we escape if we neglect this so great salvation?"  Don't miss your chance, friend. Ask Jesus to be your Saviour today. "Whoever trusts Him, will not perish but will have eternal life".

If you have been blessed by this tract, please share your testimony by writing to us:

Calvary Tract Ministry
Calvary Pandan Bible-Presbyterian Church
201 Pandan Gardens Singapore 609337
Tel: (65) 6560 3885 | Fax: (65) 6566 3806
Email: calbp@pacific.net.sg
Website: http://calvarypandan.org