Charged, but not Convicted

I picked up a job application from a reputable employer.

Nineteen years ago I was charged with a class A misdemeanor. I spent 20 hours in jail. I got out on a PR bond. (failure to ID an 18 year old who bought a 6 pack of beer in a convenient store where I worked in a sting operation on the DAY the 21 law went into effect in Austin, Texas). I paid my lawyer $800. She told me to plead "no contest". The folder in front of the judge had writing on it in big red letters: NO DEFERRALS.

The judge asked me for my plea. I did as my lawyer advised. The judge looked at my record. I had no priors. I was clean. The judge said, "This folder says no deferrals, but this is MY court. I can do what I want to."

I was sentenced to a $400 fine, 24 hours of community service, a misdemeanor 1 class (where I was placed with violent offenders because they had no category for my crime yet) that cost me $50. AND, I had a year's probation ($40/month at that time) ALL with deferred adjudication, and a warning not to make the same mistake twice.

I was mad at the lawyer.

Today, I am thankful for her.

I read my job application. It says, "If you have ever been convicted of a class A or B misdemeanor you are not qualified.

Deferred Adjudication means charged, but not convicted.

I jumped through all the hoops. So, I can honestly say I was not convicted when asked.

Got to thinking about this.

I am charged with crimes that are punishable by death in God's Eyes. But, HE has offered deferred adjudication if I jump through some hoops.

In HIS court, He only asks that I jump through one: accepting Jesus as my Lord and Saviour. Claiming HIS redemption by the blood of HIS sacrifice, and to go and sin no more.

I did that. So now, though I have been charged, I am not convicted to death!

My lawyer in the eternal court is none other than the Son of God Himself, Lord Jesus! Though I can't see the ultimate reward right now, I know that when the day comes that the Father does a background check on me, He will find my crimes are washed clean by the blood of the Lamb.

Jeremiah 31:34
“And they shall teach no more every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know the LORD: for they shall all know me, from the least of them unto the greatest of them, saith the LORD: for I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more.”