A Free Gift

Imagine that you've committed a crime, and you're about to be hauled into court. All of a sudden, the phone rings: It's the circuit-court judge, and he tells you that within twelve hours, you'll be dragged into court with ball and chains. Even worse, the state prosecution has its fiercest team of prosecutors posed to throw the book at you. Now, says the judge, if you come immediately to my office, I'll let you judge yourself and I'll rip up all the charges against you. Sound like a fantasy? Too good to be true?

Hashem is that benevolent judge. He gives each of us a priceless free gift of judging ourselves, before the Heavenly Court judges us.