Everyone seems to have an opinion regarding the George Zimmerman trial and the recent verdict rendered for his shooting of Trayvon Martin. Many voices are protesting and some are defending the verdict, but there is only one Voice we should seek to hear and to which we should respond. That is the voice of Jesus. And it isn’t just about asking the question, “What would Jesus do?”, but also looking at what Jesus has already done to address this situation.
Although there is nothing wrong with seeking justice and hoping for it from our earthly elected and appointed judges, we cannot expect to have perfect justice until Jesus rules and reigns in His coming kingdom.Jesus is the only truly Just Judge. Psalm 9:7-8 states, “The Lord reigns forever; He has established His throne for judgment. He rules the world in righteousness and judges the peoples with equity.” Jesus alone knows our heart motives and He alone is able to— and will— judge our ‘secrets’, our hidden thoughts and actions. (Romans 2:16)
A jury of his peers found George Zimmerman to be innocent; we may never know the full story while on this earth.He is going to have to stand before Jesus and give an account of all that he has done in his life, including the shooting of Trayvon.And Trayvon will also have to give an account before Jesus of what he did in this incident as well as throughout his whole life. As will the judge and jurors in that courtroom. And so will you, me, and every person who has ever lived.
Have you asked yourself what positive thing can possibly come from the division that is arising in our nation in the aftermath of this verdict?We know that, “If a kingdom is divided against itself it cannot stand.” (Mark 3:24) We need to move on and accept the reality that the verdict in this case has been issued; life on this earth may not always seem fair to us, but God is always the ultimate Judge and He always judges rightly.
The person who received the most unjust verdict that ever has been rendered was Jesus. He laid down His life and willingly accepted the masses’ cry to “Crucify Him!”, and He surrendered to judge Pontius Pilate’s verdict that kowtowed to the religious leaders and the crowd. Why? Because it was the will of His Heavenly Father who loves you and me and all of mankind so much that He sacrificed His son—whose spotless blood was the only acceptable payment for your sin and for mine. Jesus’ death was the only way for us sinners—children of wrath— to be reconciled to a Holy God. Jesus’ love for His Father and for us led Him to humble Himself and to accept the unjust verdict of mankind.
There will come a time when each one of us will have to stand alone before Jesus and He will render His judgment of our guilt or innocence. He is the only one who can judge us perfectly because He took the place on the cross that should have been yours and mine. He paid the price for our sins. All who put their trust in Jesus and His finished work on the cross will be declared “innocent” before God and receive everlasting life with Him. Those who refuse to believe in Jesus and to put their trust in what He did on the cross for them will be declared “guilty” and be condemned to everlasting separation from God in Hell.
Rather than focusing so much attention on the Zimmerman verdict that Jesus alone knows whether it was just, it is of far, far greater and eternal importance that we focus our attention on the verdict that we will receive when each of us stands alone before Jesus on the Day of Judgment.
God, rich in mercy but also just, does not force the priceless gift of salvation He purchased for mankind on anyone.We must choose to receive it.“But to as many as did receive and welcome Him, He gave the authority (power, privilege, right) to become the children of God, that is, to those who believe in (adhere to, trust in, and rely on) His name.“ John 1:12 (Amplified version)
Are you confident that you will be declared “innocent” before Jesus? *What about those whom you love?Do you need to share the life-transforming message of Jesus’ sacrificial death to pay for man’s sin with anyone you know so that they too can be assured of an “innocent” verdict?
* If you are not confident you would be declared “innocent”, you can be.Please contact me at [email protected] for more information on this vital subject.
Written by Julie Van Gorp