This past week, a church member from Grand Blanc and I went to do a site visit for the mission trip to Ecuador. When we arrived at the gate in Quito, we had about 30 minutes before take off. So as a “good” husband, I decide to go buy a gift for my wife (we had no time during our 2 full days there). As I’m ready to go, an airline staff member tells me to show our passports to an airport security person. As I head towards him, he walks away with 2-3 others.

I figure he doesn’t need us. My friend stays behind, and I go look for a store. As I walk past that particular group, I’m yelled at, to come with them, accusing me of trying to get away. They led me downstairs and outside where there are drug sniffing dogs barking loudly. I see my checked-bag and my friends. I tell them that my friend is upstairs; I’m questioned very suspiciously about why he stayed behind (I explained to him that I had no idea why I was told to go down, I was just going to buy a gift).

A young officer questions me and checks the contents of my bag, and tells me to go. I go, and am yelled at again, for going alone. I’m called back and questioned about the other bag. I mention that it’s not mine and the repeated story goes for another round. I’m asked if I’ll be responsible for the contents. I say I can vouch for what I know of him, but there may be some hidden thing that I don’t, and I don’t vouch for the unknown. They take me back to the young officer who had checked by bag, and I’m yelled at again with bad language for lying about not having another bag. I tell them, it’s not my bag and the again the story is repeated.

The bag is thoroughly checked, and am told I can walk back to the gate. I start walking and another officer yells at me and chews me out for trying to leave without permission. They find someone to take me and as we’re walking, I get yelled out for going with a officer-in-training (you can imagine my unbelief), I go back and wait until another officer takes me and I have to go through two security screenings, one by them and one as we enter the airport by airport staff.

I made it back in time for the flight, but a couple of things stood out.

1. In the the cosmic controversy of this life, Satan stands to accuse us before God of our sins (Revelation 12:9-10).
2. I was asked to take responsibility for my friends luggage… Jesus does the same with us. He places his life in our place (2 Corinthians 5:21).
3. I was not willing to take responsibility if there was drugs found in my friends bag (Of course there were none). But in real life, the baggage of our life does have the contamination of sin. But, Jesus did not shy away or reject being associated with that contamination. He took our place knowing who and what we are. He took the penalty of the sin that He knew we had, and let us have His clean life. (Isaiah 53:4-6).