One Pick Up Too Many (8)

It was then that she noticed a presence. It started with a warm glow around her and then it was all over her body! The effect was as if she had become a new born baby, completely unaware of fear, guilt or shame! In an instant, all negative emotions disappeared and all she could feel was a sense of well being she had never known before! It was like a feeling of being secure, loved and cared for, all at once. She felt a baby once again, being cuddled by her mother!

Lost in that warm embrace, feeling secure and loved, all she could whisper was, “Jesus, I love you” She wanted nothing else but to stay in His warm embrace, lost in eternity! But then, somehow, somehow she knew she the presence was for a while to strengthen her. She had to let go!

As she turned back to look at the three accused persons, she suddenly felt strong currents of love surging through her heart! The feeling was so beautiful that she felt like holding the three accused persons in her arms, wiping away their pain and sorrow!

She still didn’t know who they were but now she could understand that they were not guilty of whatever they were being accused off! Until their nature was changed, they would continue to commit those crimes!

Their offences were their very nature. It was unfair to expect them to behave otherwise. It was like punishing a Lion for roaring or a dog for barking! How do you charge a pig to court for wallowing in the mire?

But how did she know these things? She wondered. It was as if she was receiving information from deep within her! Not that she heard a voice, no, she just knew these things!

Then, she found herself in the movie! She stood facing the creature that sat as judge over the three. At first, she couldn’t see him clearly. As she moved closer however, what she saw cannot be described with words. The creature was more to be perceived than seen! This was the sum of all fears!

At first, Ama was confused but then in a second, she understood what was before her. This was a being that magnified the fears of whosoever gazed at it! With the mass of hellish creatures attending the court proceedings gazing at the creature, the effect was so horrifying that Ama faltered.

But she knew she had to move towards the creature to dissolve her fears, so she moved closer and closer, amazed that the nearer she was, the more confident she became!

To her surprise, as she moved forward, the creatures moved back and away from her as if in terror until she stopped, all her fears completely dissolved! It was then she realized that she was dressed in an immaculate gown so white that its rays prevented anyone from looking directly at her. All the creatures had their hands covering their eyes!

The sound of the voice of one who appeared to be a Court Bailiff was hostile.

“Who art thou and from whence cometh thou?”

Opening her mouth, she was amazed at the words that flowed from her lips.

“I stand as one washed by the blood of the Lamb, slain from before the foundation of the world”

“Yes”, another creature, the prosecutor, sniggered from behind her. He was cowering behind a chair, dressed in ragged attire, too loathsome to describe! “But you are not righteous. You are not the Lamb, you cannot plead their case”

“My righteousness is not of works. It is of faith in Christ Jesus. I am the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus!” Ama replied, full of confidence

The prosecutor recoiled, gasping in pain as if he had been cut with a sharp object!

“But by what authority, by what power do you stand in this court room?” the voice of the one sited as Judge roared, sending all the creatures in court scampering for safety.

With a smile, Ama turned to face the creature on the bench. There was now dark smoke and fire billowing around him.

“I stand in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ…”

As she mentioned the name, all the creatures in the court room went flat on their faces, including the Judge! This was a Name they would rather not hear! The Name seemed to strike so much terror in them, that they literally cowered!

From behind the desk where he had fallen, the Judge spoke in a somewhat humble tone. “Yes, but these three belong to us. They have committed sins for which we have the authority to take them and make them ours eternally.”

Slowly, he stood up and sat on his seat, struggling to catch his breathe. Pointing at the first accused, he explained. “This was born into a Christian family. She was a heir of salvation but she rejected the gift! She chose rather to align with the spirit of the harlot! She ended up trying to sell her body to one of us for money!  Besides, she cursed her father and mother several times”

Turning to Ama, he continued. “You know what the book says, don’t you? Her light is to be put out in obscure darkness! This is the law. Are we wrong to enforce the law?”

“Why do you trouble us?” he concluded in a pained voice, thrusting forward a pair of hoofs,  his hands in despair!

This was an orator!

To Ama’s surprise, from the creatures around came thunderous applause! One by one, they arose from their prostrate positions on the floor, different shapes and sizes of immortal ugliness, applauding!

As she opened her mouth to respond, the creature thrust out its hoof to stop her. “I am not through yet”