The Gift

The man woke up from exhaustion- induced sleep in his dark, cold and filthy dungeon cell. He was shackled down with heavy chains, the manacles on his ankles and wrists were tight and sharp, cutting off his circulation, cutting into his flesh. He had confessed to many crimes against the Kingdom, had no alibis, no defense; although he knew the laws, he was powerless to control himself . His life had caught up with him, the sentence pronounced over him was death. Today was the day of his execution.
His jailers brought him out into a square, tying him to a post against a wall. The man could see that opposite from him were the observers' stands and he could see the King and the King's Beloved and only son, the Prince. The firing squad assembled, the judgement pronounced again, a blindfold placed over his eyes...the drums rolled ...ready...aim...there was a pause and then, footsteps. His blindfold was removed and as he blinked, he realized that the person standing before him was the Prince! The Prince untied the convict, who was now watching the King descend his throne in the stands and walk towards him! The King loudly proclaimed the man forgiven, his sentence commuted, embraced him, and placed a royal robe around him, and a gold signet ring on his hand. What happened next was incomprehensible; the Prince stepped to the post, was bound to it, and as the pardoned man watched with the King, the command came : FIRE!
The Prince had taken the full force of the judgement due. As the ex-convict asked the King through tears, "Why,why would you and your son ... do this ... for me? I was guilty and deserving of judgement, not mercy and redemption." The King replied, " We did it for love- our love for you! We have always known about you, followed your life. Our plan for our people is for redemption and deliverance. Today you have become my son, just like the Prince has become your brother. You are pardoned, redeemed, and free. From now on, wear this robe and this ring and forgive as you have been forgiven. This, your renewed life, is my gift to you."

I am the redeemed convict, of course, and so are you! To those who have been forgiven much, much is required. Let us remember the Gift. It was free to us, but it cost the Lord everything. My prayer: "Lord, let us never forget, not for one second, the huge debt we have been released from. Let this drive me, and let my life and dealings with others be a reflection of this Gift."