Posted: 08/14/06

The Law to Draw the Law

-by Patrick Burwell, OnlyJesusSaves.com

Officer "Keith" was getting out of his cruiser, so, I got back out of my car saying, "Whenever I see you guys I like to give you one of these.", handing him the "Are You Good Enough to Go to Heaven?" tract.
As he took it, he smiled and said, "I've got a buddy who would like this - He's always preaching at me."

I winced at that one. I hate to be preached "at."

I said, "Does he use The Law to explain it?"
He looked at me quizzically and said, "What? No..."
I smiled and proceeded to use the Law on "the Law. "
Ever lied?
Yup.
What do you call someone who lies?
A liar.
Yeah, thanks for bein honest. Ever steal?
Uh, yeah.
What's that make you?
A ....a thief. Hah hah. (Nervous smile)
Hmmm. Unless you're in Pittsburgh then that makes you a "Steeler" right?
Hah. Good one!
Ok, well here's the one that got me. It's the sixth commandment (woops - it's the Seventh)
Ok. (getting antsy)
Jesus said, "You've heard it said to not commit adultery. Well I say whoever looks at a woman with lust has committed adultery already with her in his heart."
(Paused for effect)
Ever done that?
Who hasn't? (He's looking worried now... good...!)
Ok, Officer. When you face God you will be a lying, thieving, adulterer at heart and that's only 4 of the 10.
So, where will you go, Heaven or Hell?
Heaven, I hope! (Nervous laughter)
Keith, scripture is clear you will be going to Hell!
Well, I have to get ....
Ok, I understand. Just make sure you read that.
I'm going to make sure my buddy gets this!
Well, listen, here's the part your buddy probably told you about.
...
"Well, ok." I said, surprised at the silence, "What did God do so you DON'T have to go to Hell?"
... (Shrugs)
"Ok, Hmm." I said. "You'll appreciate this then."
He smiles as I say, "You're in a courtroom, guilty of t-boning a cop car as you ran a stop sign. You didn't mean to do it but you were caught red-handed, can't get out of it. You stand before the Judge and he passes a sentence of 50,000 dollars to replace the car." Officer Keith nods knowingly. "You are about to go to jail when suddenly someone stands up that you don't know, pays the 50,000 dollar fine and walks out."
(paused for effect)
"What's the Judge going to say then?", I say. He shrugs and I say, "'You're free to go, right?'"
"Yeah.", he says, seeing the point.
I say, "Right. You're still guilty, but the fine was paid. God sent His own son 2000 years ago to pay the fine for your crime. And if you'll put your trust in Him that payment will be yours."
(ponderous silence)
"Y'see, you have to do two things to be rescued by God from the Hell you so justly deserve. What are those two things?"
(He shrugs)
"Repent and Believe."
(at that he nods)
I quickly explained Repentance with the firecracker being really dynamite analogy and explained Believing as being what you do when you trust your life to a parachute jumping from a plane.
I then paused as he considered what I said.

Then he remembered he had to get going, apparently thinking how long he had been there. So seeing that, I said, "Hey, I don't want to keep you further - you have a job to do. But think about those things. We don't have the promise for tomorrow."
He said, "You're right about that as he went off into the store.
I yelled after him, "READ that and HAVE YOUR FRIEND CALL ME!"

So, I didn't get threatened I'd be busted for "offensive speech", like Jesse Morrell of OpenAirOutreach.com was in Texas (he even got hand-cuffed!); I didn't get told I was a nut, and I didn't get told to "get off that box", like Ray Comfort of LivingWaters.com was, as a New York cop tried to intimidate him with the new "anti-loitering" laws that say you can't stand on anything and speak.

I wasn't arrested, beaten, jailed or tortured to death as Christians are in other countries:

Sometimes the best you can do is "lay it down" for the lost, that they can consider the truth.
And all you can know for sure is that you gave the Gospel faithfully,
because you used the Way of the Master.

You can do that.

By Patrick Burwell Click here for bio and archived articles