Years ago I had the privilege of attending an all-Black Pentecostal Church service in Los Angeles, My cousin was asked to preach. When it came time for the offering the most amazing thing happened. They played what they called the victory song and each person who gave did this victory dance down to the front to pay their tithe and offerings. It was kind of this cool shuffle, It was so fun. I wanted to join in but was too self-conscious of my dance moves.
As I was laying down this afternoon I heard, “Okay this is enough.”
Jesus knelt down next to my mattress and hoisted me over his shoulder, like a fireman’s carry. He carried me up through this dark atmosphere, a thick layer of spiritual resistance. He carried me through to the courts of heaven.
Jesus laid me on a gurney outside the courtroom doors. “You wait here, I’m going to take care of this once and for all.”
As I lay on the gurney, Jesus removes his robe. Ties his hair back into a ponytail and puts on a pinstripe suit, silk shirt, and tie, amazing Italian leather shoes. He grabs a beautiful black leather briefcase off the floor and said, “Well how do I look?”
“I’ve never seen you with a ponytail, nice suit.”
He winks, “It’s my Professional Advocate look. I’ll be right back.”
Jesus flings open the courtroom doors and strolls, no struts down the center aisle. The doors close behind him.
In the hallway, I can hear animated conversations going on inside the courtroom.
At one point the door opens and I hear Jesus yell, “Are you willing to release all those who hold judgments against you?”
From the gurney, I nod.
“Every last one of them?”
I whisper, “Yes.” The Courtroom doors shut.
Songs of Deliverance begin to play in the hallway.
I lay back with my hands tucked behind my head. The music is relaxing. Arguments being made can be heard from the courtroom but I can’t make sense of them, so I just lay back and enjoy the music being piped into the hallway.
Tears begin to stream down the sides of my cheeks as I begin to see faces of people from over four decades who are still holding me in judgment for things that happened back then. Some deserved, some undeserved, but their judgments are holding back the redemptive work Jesus has done since the occurrence. The judgment keeps the redemption from being acknowledged. Face after face. Many I had not thought about in years, but for them, it was as if it just happened.
Releasing comes with every tear, sure there are momentary lapses of wanting to defend myself, but as the songs of deliverance play on, the releasing flows; from decade to decade to the present.
Suddenly the door opens, the courtroom is filled with accusers whose hands and feet are shackled and chained.
Jesus calls “Come and receive your verdict.”
Full of energy and life I jump up off the gurney. I find myself doing that same victory shuffle that I had seen years earlier in the Black Pentecostal Church.
It is absolutely liberating.
As I shuffle my way to the front of the courtroom all heads are face down, they can’t make eye contact with me. I’m full of joy.
When I get to the front Jesus hands me a deed of title, it has a red wax seal with two small gold ribbon strands hanging from the seal.
“What is this?”
“It’s your title, your reward. No one will be able to buy it from you, steal it, or deceive you out of it. This is your personal injury reward. Across the top in bold letters is written the word, “Authority.”
I turn around and all those who had judgments against me are gone.
“Where did they go?’
Jesus interlocks arms with me and says, “They’ve been released, free to go. He chuckles and says, “Where are you accusers now?”
We ‘Victory Shuffle’ down the center aisle, the door flies open and out we go.
In the hallway, I stop and ask why didn’t you let me go in during the argument portion of the hearing.
His answer is profound, “Because you would have tried to defend yourself.”
Religion will always fight and defend, on the other hand, the Love of Christ will always release and set free.
Featured Image by Piotr Cierkosz on Unsplash
