Judgment in God's Court

They always say that there are two sides of the coin. In their coverage, the media make it a point to seek both sides to be able to present balanced news. When a complainant files a charge against someone in any court or public office, the one being sued will be summoned to defend himself. Recently, the integrity of the criminal justice in the Philippines is being put in question as the Supreme Court acquitted the suspects in the most prominent case in the 1990’s, the Vizconde massacre. The heinous crime took place in 1991 and the suspects were proven guilty in 1995. The case was reopened and after almost a score, the defendants were exonerated. The news, for a night was full of interviews of the two parties; the families of the freed murder suspects and Lauro, the head of the Vizconde family, the now only living member.

When the nation’s justices seem at loss and fail to solve the case, how can an average joe have an answer? Mr. Vizconde was left asking where he would seek justice after hearing the Supreme Court’s decision. Where indeed can he find one? It is not easy to formulate laws that will protect the rights and privileges of every citizen and that will provide apt and humane punishment to every crime committed. It is the duty of each resident to abide with the laws of the land, may it be national or local. But where does one go if the man’s law fails to exercise good judgment?

It’s easy to take sides in any incident. In such case, the orphaned father whose kid and wife was stabbed numerous times and daughter raped and stabbed to death is the underdog definitely. But after almost two decades, the suspects were favored by some of the justices for they reckoned that the evidences were thin at best. Lots of questions were raised due to the technicalities of the case. For the sake of the argument, let us say that the defendants are innocent. It would be so unfair for them to be in jail for 15 years, let alone to have their lives ruined and names tainted.

In instances like this, who is the real victim? Who can be the rightful judge? How will the real perpetrators be found and pay? If one cannot count on the effectiveness of the enforcement of man’s law, where can the victims go for justice? Would you give them the churchy line “Turn to God?” You can. Is there anything else they can do? Yes. They can put the law in their own hands but it would be called vengeance and it will never be justifiable. Hebrews 4:12-13 says that “For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. 13 Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account.” It is quite clear that God is aware of absolutely everything as nothing can be kept from Him, even the things that are still to be done. If this is the case, He knows who the evildoer is even if the law of the land fails to point it out. But is it enough that God knows this? Certainly not. It’s written that each and every one of us, sinners and saints, would stand before God and He will judge us according to what we did all the days of our lives. Even the forgiven sins won’t go unpunished.

Though God is love, He is perfectly just. He serves justice to where it is needed. He is in control of everything. In heaven, there’d be no need for Court of Appeals for we can rely on the fact that God will never commit lapse in judgment for He is fair. The reality that evildoers will not be acquitted in heaven might not assuage the grief of the victims, especially if it’s the very life of their loved ones that are lost. But there will be a time that the truth would prevail and justice will be served in God’s court. It’s a trial everyone will be put into, which nobody can escape

(Source: http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Hebrews+4%3A12-13&version=NIV)