Adua was sweating profusely. So many thoughts were running through her mind. How was she going to walk away from this mess? An hour ago, she was home, and everything was fine. She had a bad feeling when Emosho called her over for a “hangout”.
She had been doing it before with him with no regret till she discovered he was a married man, and it didn’t settle well with her. She knew it wasn’t right, but somehow, having an entanglement with Emosho made it impossible to say NO. This time, the feeling was unsettling. She wanted to sit home, think about her life, and end things with him. She tried saying no, he wouldn’t have it and persuaded her till she gave in.
She freshened up and went over to his place. They were five minutes away from “having fun” when they were interrupted by the police. An array of Police officers led by Emosho’s wife barged into the house.
“Officer, that’s the harlot sleeping with my husband.”
Adua wished the ground would swallow her at that moment because it was embarrassing. Not only was she caught naked, but they had dragged her out in public in that state like she was no human being. She looked around, hoping to see if Emosho was dragged like she was for cheating, but it wasn’t the same. She was the only “infidel” here.
Here she was in the courtroom, surrounded by police officers and strangers who were waiting to know what her fate would be, some were holding stones, ready to throw them at her as the punishment for a woman caught in adultery was to be stoned to death. She looked around, hoping to see a familiar face, perhaps someone who could give her hope over this, but there was none. Was this how it was going to end? She wasn’t ready to die yet, at least not like this. Is it possible to get a second chance?
Her thoughts were interrupted when the Judge walked in, and prosecutors presented her as an adulterer who should be stoned by the law. As the prosecutors spoke, Adua bowed her head in shame.
They were right. She was guilty of all the allegations, she didn’t deserve mercy. It was going to end here and now.
It was finally time for the Chief Judge to give his verdict. He was a man in his late forties’ with wrinkles printed on his forehead.
He looked at her keenly and asked
“Young lady, are the allegations true?”
Adua couldn’t speak, she only nodded. Of course, it was true.
To her surprise, he said;
“If there is anyone in this court who hasn’t committed an offence all through their lifetime should be the first to cast a stone on her.”
Adua closed her eyes, ready for the first hit. This was it… A goodbye from the earth. She waited in anticipation for the first hit but felt nothing for 20 minutes, and the silence around her was deafening; no stone was thrown. Slowly, Adua opened her eyes to an empty courtroom left by the Judge, who was busy writing. Where had they all gone?
He looked up at her and asked,
“Young Woman, where are the people who persecute you?”
“I can’t find them, my Lord.”
“Good. Go home and sin no more.”
Just like that? An ocean of mercy was open to Adua, she was given a second chance and a new start.
Have you written people off because of their past? You can be that Judge whose presence and words can fix what is broken, heal what is wounded and restore what is lost through mercy.
If you have written yourself off because of your past, you can run to the judge for mercy.
The mercy of God is more profound and broader than the ocean. It never runs dry, always ready to fill an empty vessel and heal a wounded heart.
Are you stuck with the challenges and ills you cannot carry on like Adua? An unending ocean of mercy is available through Jesus Christ, who can save and deliver you. Oh! That your soul can drink from his ocean and be filled abundantly. Come to the place of mercy and receive.