Isn't this how we feel sometimes? Does God even know what is happening? Look at these wicked people! They found her not guilty? These fat cats scoff and speak evil! She went dancing and got a tattoo! And so people are dismayed and confused and start drinking in all their words! How telling of our own situations. Our trust and faith in God is pushed to the side as we start to believe that because there is a perceived injustice that we somehow have all the answers. We don't. The Psalmist finally remembers what is truly important:
So I tried to understand why the wicked prosper. But what a difficult task it is! Then I went into your sanctuary, O God, and I finally understood the destiny of the wicked. Psalm 73: 16-17 (NLT)
Go back to the sanctuary of God. That place where it is just you and Him. Be reminded of what we so easily forget. There is so much more beyond this life. We may not share in the earthly prosperity of the wicked but they do not share in the eternal prosperity of God. Their destiny is not one to be envied and therefore their path through this life to arrive at that destiny is equally unenviable.
While we are on this subject of destiny, let us not forget that what we are valuing is this life over the eternal life. The Bible is very clear how we obtain this eternal gift from God:
"For God loved the world so much that he gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. John 3: 16 (NLT)
But that decision to believe in Jesus Christ is a choice that we can only make when we fully understand what it means. The Bible assures us that children are inherently innocent in this regard. When God was angry with the Israelites for their lack of faith in Him He vowed that the current generation would not set foot in the Promised Land. He did however make a clear distinction about their children:
I will give the land to your little ones--your innocent children. You were afraid they would be captured, but they will be the ones who occupy it. Deuteronomy 1: 39 (NLT)
In Isaiah we see God delineate that there is a time when we are able to distinguish between right and wrong and thus make the choice to accept the gift of salvation or not:
By the time this child is old enough to choose what is right and reject what is wrong, he will be eating yogurt and honey. Isaiah 7: 15
We mourn for what we know. We mourn for the loss of life in this world. Instead of realizing that little Caylee Anthony can be assured of the promises of God:
Yes, we are fully confident, and we would rather be away from these earthly bodies, for then we will be at home with the Lord. 2Corinthians 5: 8 (NLT)
Are we saddened at the brutality? Absolutely. Should be outraged that anyone would want to kill a child? Absolutely. But the reality at the end of the day is we do not know exactly what happened in this case, or the thousands of other horrific cases we see each year in this world that is decaying. What we do know is we serve a mighty God who sees all and who is a just God. The Bible actually compels us to not seek out judgment but to pray for the Casey Anthony's of the world regardless of whether she is actually guilty or not. Because God would not see any perish and no one is beyond the redemptive love of God:
The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance. 2Peter 3: 9 (NIV)
God forbid that we should start to determine what level of sin would prevent someone from being able to repent. Who amongst us would take the chance on what side we might end up on? Leave the matters of judgment of this world up to God and worry about what God expects from us. The second half of the key verses remind us what God does expect. He expects us to know that no matter what something might appear like to us in the natural world; it will always go better for the God fearing man.
It saddens me to see the bloodlust we have as human beings. A child is dead and we grieve the death. We want someone to pay because the child should not be dead. But we have to start by admitting that we do not KNOW what happened. That our opinions are based from emotionalism and not the omniscience of the Lord. Only He knows what happened and no one escapes His justice. If Casey Anthony is innocent as the jury found her, she still will be haunted by this. If she is actually guilty, she needs our prayers even more. And Caylee? Caylee has had every tear wiped from her eyes beloved. She is with Jesus.
We have a justice system better than any in the world. It has ruled. Leave the rest to God.
