The Greatest Honor

Thought a lot about this one. Assuming the reason is immortality of sorts, I considered and rejected the following:

• Plant or Animal: goes extinct, or name changed
• Buildings: eventually get torn down, destroyed or renamed
• State or National Park: eventually developed or name changed
• Country: Vive la revolution! There goes that one…
• Planet: Eventually dies along with star
• Star: Eventually blows up or fades to nothing

While I was pondering these, I had the news on in the background. Was a bwah bwah, but then I heard something so unreal, I had to stop typing and pay attention.

Seems like a guy in some little town in Alabama was convicted of something and the jury sentenced him to death. Today was the formal sentencing.

The judge banged his gavel and upheld the sentence. The prisoner’s shoulder’s slumped. His attorney whispered with him, then asked to approach the bench. The CNN cameras zoomed in. My wife looked up at this point.

The guy’s attorney gave an impassioned plea as to why his client should be spared.

The judge just looked down and sadly shook his head. Finally, the attorney spoke. “Then in that case, your honor, I would like to offer myself in place of my client.”

The judge looked startled. “Come again, counselor?”

“I’d like to invoke Alabama Code Title 13A. Criminal Code § 13A-3-4 and take the place of my client.”

The judge called for a recess; after about 30 minutes, he reappeared, banged his gavel and called for order. He looked over his bench at the attorney. “Counselor, are you SURE you want to invoke this codicil?” The attorney nodded, was placed under custody and led away in handcuffs.

Except, this wasn’t Alabama in 2024. The attorney was not a Bama Law grad. The sentence was not a one-and-done lethal injection.

It was the court of a Roman Governor 1,991 years ago. Our attorney was Jesus. And the sentence he took for us was not a one-and-done, but an eternal one. Permanent separation from God.

Yesterday was the trial and execution. Today, our attorney destroyed evil. Tomorrow, He will rise and destroy death itself. And because He took our guilt, we will live forever. All we need to do is believe and trust.

So what do I want named after myself?

Nothing, because everything is fleeting.

For me, these six words are sufficient immortality: “Well done, good and faithful servant.” ~ Matthew 25:23