Psalm 18:30 As for God, his way is perfect: the word of the Lord is tried: he is a buckler to all those that trust in him.

Isaiah 21:5 (AMPC) They prepare the table, they spread the rugs, [and having] set the watchers [the revelers take no other precaution], they eat, they drink. Arise, you princes, and oil your shields [for your deadly foe is at the gates]!

2 Samuel 1:21 Ye mountains of Gilboa, let there be no dew, neither let there be rain, upon you, nor fields of offerings: for there the shield of the mighty is vilely cast away, the shield of Saul, as though he had not been anointed with oil.

Allow me to tie all these scriptures together as they were pointed out to me by the Holy Spirit.

The buckler was a small round leather shield worn on the left wrist. Being leather it required oiling. Neglecting its maintenance causes cracks in your armor. If a warrior is so gifted in the use of his sword, he will cast aside his buckler as if it serves no good purpose.

My bible has a leather binding. Over the years the pages became stained from the oil from my hands. I had so much respect for that bible and how the Lord gifted it to me that I never wrote in it. Then I decided to place a protective cover over my bible to preserve it. It too being made of leather.

These days, I use my computer, the internet and ease of access to study His Word. My hands no longer oil my leather bound bible. It has dried out, cracked, and lays where I placed it, unused. Discarded.

My buckler is cracked and discarded, dried up from lack of use.

At what point in my life did I lose the respect that I once held for the gift?

Can you relate to losing respect?

Hebrews 9:27 And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:

You are in heaven’s court now. It is final judgment day. Your advocate has received the evidence against you during discovery. It is a rather large book of every sin you ever thought or did. Your advocate has but one question for you before the trial begins.

“How do you justify these sins?”

Galatians 3:24 Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith.

“I put my faith in You. You offered me a plea deal while I was alive, my life for Yours. I accepted.”

Your advocate approaches the judgment bar, extends His wrists, exposing the nail scars and tells the court, “My client has already been executed for his sins.”

“The court finds no evidence against you in order to bring further charges. You are free to go.”

1 John 2:1 My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous:

Romans 6:3 Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death?

Since you are reading this now, you have not come before the judgment seat but the offer of this plea deal is set before you this day. Come judgment day, if you do not have that plea deal in effect, it will be too late. That covenant contract can only be made while you are still alive. A life for a life can only be made while one has life to offer.

Romans 12:1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.

Your life for His, His death for yours.

How do you plea?