The Hearing
Co-written with my friend Joshua Ide

“All Rise and come to order “cried out the Archangel Michael. Michael was dressed in his usual white robe with gold trim. He sheathed is sword which hung on his left hip. “This is the case of Lucifer vs. Tommy Smith from the town of Trinidad, Son of April and Paul.”

The prosecutor stood on the left. He wore a very fine 3 piece Italian suit. He was sharp; everything was in order all the way down to his $500 leather shoes. There was a gold watch hanging from his left breast pocket and a monocle hanging from a chain around his neck. The monocle was for effect. He didn’t really need it although he would hold it up to his eye every now and then. The prosecutor was Lucifer, the fallen one, one of the original 3 Archangels. Lucifer was cast
from heaven ages ago. He now wanders to and fro accusing the people of God. Lucifer is full of pride and thinks himself to be above even God himself. He stood behind a table
on which were stacked books with the defendants name in gold letters.

The people’s defender stood to the right dressed in plain purple robe with the hood over his head.. He stood behind a bare table, no books, no apparent evidence to present.

“Defendant Thomas Charles Smith, come forward and stand before the judge” beckoned Michael. Tommy slowly walked forward and took position in from the judgment throne of God. Tommy was scared, so much so that he could hardly form a coherent thought. The last thing he remembered was that he was on an airplane heading home from a business meeting in Orlando. Now he finds himself here in front of God being judged for his life. He remembered reading about it in his Bible not too long ago. This was all too surreal and he hoped he would just wake up and it would all be a dream.

“Do you swear to tell the truth and nothing but the truth so help you God? Asked Michael. “Y..Yes I do” replied Tommy. “ Too late for that now isn’t it? Let’s just get on with it” screamed Lucifer. Lucifer paced back and forth and seemed nervous. He was always in motion, touching his face with his hands or looking at his watch. “Order” returned the judge. “There will be order in my courtroom” With that Lucifer sat down and opened his books.

The courtroom grew deafeningly silent. “You may present your case “said Michael as he glanced left towards Lucifer. With that Lucifer stood up and said “Your Honor, I have concrete evidence that the defendant belongs with me. He was a sinner from the day he was born right up to the day I caused his plane to crash. He cheated on his wife not 1 but 3 times. He thought himself to be quite the womanizer. He lied to his family, he stole from his company and he had quite a vocabulary if you know what I mean.” Lucifer paced in front of Tommy with his arms behind his back, then slammed his hands on the table and pointed at Tommy. "Is it true that you even embezzled money from your employer?" "Tell me! Tell me if I'm wrong?!" Tommy looked at the ground. By now Lucifer was in full throttle, he gestured widely with his arms and whenever he looked toward Tommy, he used his monocle. It was a performance worthy of an Emmy.

The judge then looked at Tommy, and asked “are these things true? Tommy answered “yes they are”. There was a hush that tore around the room. Tommy’s head hung toward the floor in shame. He couldn’t even look into the eyes of his judge.

Michael then looked to the right and said the people’s defender “you may present your case.” With that, the defender stood up and said “Yes, all of these things are true. Not only the things mentioned already, but Tommy was also a cheater, He was prideful in His heart. He was full of lust, greed and envy” Lucifer then struck a pose, pointing at Tommy and glared at him thru his monocle and said “tell it, tell it”! “Your honor” the defender continued “I move that the case against Tommy be dropped “.

“Dropped? Dropped?? “Shouted Lucifer as he screamed and laughed uncontrollably. “ How can you say that? You have no evidence in His favor, HA HA I win!” Lucifer continued “Tommy will come with me and I will render his punishment” Lucifer pulled out an appointment book and flipped thru the pages. “Let’s see” he said. How about next Thursday at 11 o’clock until…. Oh… lets say FOREVER”? HAHAHAH” Lucifer was clearly out of control. “Order in my court “screamed the judge.

The judge then said to the defender “have you any evidence to present? “ The defendant replied “Yes father, I do” as he pulled the hood back and revealed his identity “Oh come on” shouted Lucifer, what’s HE doing here”? “Silence serpent” shouted the defender. “You have had your say and now I shall have mine”. “For I am Christ Jesus, the Son of the eternal God. I was there when the defendant called out to me and received the gift of salvation. I was there to hear his prayers of forgiveness and repentance. And he is recognized as a born again believer by the mark I have placed in his heart. When the prosecutor slapped that plane out of the air, I was there with the people. Tommy died praying to me for his family that he left behind”. Jesus glared at Lucifer and said “and his prayer will be honored, lay no hand against this mans family, for they too will be saved”

Tommy fell on His face before the judgment throne of God and just cried out “Thank you Lord, thank you”. Jesus said to him “Thomas Charles Smith stand on your feet” Tommy stood up as the Lord wiped the tears from his eyes. Jesus then faced the throne and held his arms out and said, “Father, the evidence I have for the defendant is overwhelming and again I ask you to drop the charges” With that the scars in his wrists and feet were visible. “Open the book of life and when you get to the defendants name read to the court what you see.” Jesus said to Michael.

Michael opened the book of life and when he got to Tommy’s name, he turned the book around toward Lucifer who now had nothing to say. He then showed the book to the judge and then to the court. “Thomas, look at the book and tell the court what you see. “ Tommy replied “nothing, I see nothing but a blank red page”. Jesus then said “the page is red because it’s stained with my blood. There is no evidence of the sins. They were cast away into the sea of forgetfulness when Tommy gave his life to me”.

With that, the judge said “Case dismissed “.

Lucifer then flipped over his table screamed, “I will get you, I will get you all” He then looked at Tommy and screamed so loud that he had to cover his ears “Your family is not safe, I will have them” then in a fit of rage, Lucifer raised his fist at God and said “You have won nothing” and disappeared.

Jesus comforted Tommy “your family is safe, they are in my hands, enter thou into the kingdom of God and have eternal rest and reward.