Casting all your care on Him: for He cares for you.

~1 Peter 5:7 NKJV

The reflection of blue lights flashed in my rear-view mirror. Embarrassed, I pulled over.

“Ma’am, can you explain why you were speeding?”

“I wasn’t paying attention.”

I knew not knowing my speed was no excuse. I was responsible for operating my vehicle safely. The officer ticketed me and I went my way.

When I got home, I looked up the potential consequences: one-year revocation of license, lawyer costs, court costs, insurance points…. I felt nauseous. Rather than worrying further, I bowed and put the situation in God’s mighty hands.

“Father, You gave me the license, so it is Yours to take or to give as You desire. I release this situation to You.”

I called my husband, and he called our attorney.

“I can possibly get the charges reduced by ten miles per hour,” the lawyer said, “or if we’re lucky the charges could be reduced to ‘improper equipment.’”  He explained his rates, court costs, and potential insurance rate hikes. “Do you have questions I can help you with? And try not to worry about this. I’ll do my best to get this matter resolved.”

“When I go to court, will you be with me?”

“No.”

“What?” I felt my face flush as I thought about standing in front of the judge alone.

“I am going in your place. You are to stay home. I will speak to the judge on your behalf, and I will represent you.”

A few days later, my lawyer called. “Your case has been dismissed.”

“Dismissed? As in, forgiven?” I was shocked.

“Not exactly. It’s better than that.”

“Better than forgiven?”

“Yes. Better. Dismissed means we are acting as if this never happened. It will not appear on your record at all. You will owe no court costs, and this will not be reported to your insurance. Your slate is wiped clean. Oh, and by the way, my services are gratis.”

“Thank you for representing me.” Are you sure I owe you nothing for your services?”

“Yes. That’s right; you owe me nothing. Not a penny.”

“Why?”

“Let’s just say…you have a reputation.”

“Are you sure?”

“I’m positive. Have a nice day.”

The next morning, the scripture I read during my quiet time was, “For Thou, Lord, art good, and ready to forgive; and plenteous in mercy unto all them that call upon thee” (Psalm 86:5 KJV). God is good, and even if my license had been revoked, I would still have reason to believe this is true.

For You, Lord, are good, and ready to forgive; and abundant in mercy to all those who call upon You.

~Psalm 86:5 NKJV

Father God loves us so much He sent His Son Jesus to die in our place and to take the punishment for our transgressions—even the ones that are more serious than traffic violations. Every way we’ve messed up, Jesus has already paid for.

Father God has made it possible through belief in His Son, Jesus, for our record of sins to be wiped away. Colossians 2:14 KJV reads, “Blotting the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross.” Jesus erases the charges that are against us with His own shed blood. It is as if we have never sinned, even though we were the guilty ones. The work Jesus accomplished is beyond forgiveness; the charges against us have been dismissed.

Blotting the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way,

nailing it to his cross.

~Colossians 2:14 KJV

When I get to heaven, no one will say, “Remember when you were speeding?” Not only was I forgiven, I was re-made. And the same goes for each of us. When we give our mistakes to Jesus, He blots out the transgressions as if the situations never happened at all. We are made new. II Corinthians 5:17b NLV reads, “Anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!” We are renewed through the blood of Jesus.

Our good God knew we’d need a Savior, and so He sent the best Lawyer to represent mankind that we could ever dream about. Jesus Christ cares about everything that we care about, and His representation is the best!

Share an experience where God intervened, wiping your record of sins clean.

Thank You, God, for sending Jesus to wipe my record clean.

Amen.

Genre: Non-fiction

Copyright 2019: The Speeding Ticket: Diane Virginia : All Rights Reserved

Published: November 2019: PresbyCan Daily Devotionals: Robyn Ross, Editor

Published: August 2020: Answers2Prayer Ministries: Moderator Lyn Chaffart, The Sermon Illustrator

Published: June 2020: Christian Devotions Ministries: Martin Wiles, Managing Editor; Cindy Sproles, Executive Editor