I little thing I like to do during down time at work is watch court cases. God has instilled in us a deep desire for justice, and when I see justice served, it’s so satisfying.
The one with the Apple River stabbings really got to me. Both sides pled innocent, but with a closer look, both sides were clearly guilty. It displayed the true depravity of human existence. It was a sad case all around.
1 Corinthians 3 describes how everyone’s actions will be judged, purified with fire: If anyone builds on this foundation (Christ. Our Christian lives) with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, or straw, his workmanship will be evident because the Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will prove the quality of each man’s work. If what he has built survives, he will receive a reward. If it is burned up, he will suffer loss. He himself will be saved, but only as if through the flames (ESV).
On Judgement Day, everyone will be judged. Matt 12:36: But I tell you that everyone will have to give account on the day of judgement for every empty word they have spoken.
All our works and words in private will be displayed for all to see. Some say even our thoughts. Nothing will be held back. The only difference between the saved and the unsaved is Jesus’ blood is applied to us. NDE’s often have a “life review” shown to them. Others see how their actions affected us, and we see how our actions affected others.
I imagine every action of mine, every thought and secret played on a reel in front of all existence during the great judgement. It will be shameful. Jesus will then step up and claim me as His, as if saying, “She is mine. Check the Book of Life. I have written her in it.” And so I live in light of that, and in light of eternity. I want to please God. I want the least amount of shame brought on me and on Jesus as possible, because as His imager, I represent Him.
So, back to the Apple River stabbings…
A group of teens, under the influence of alcohol and drugs, gain up on a lone older man. It’s a scene straight out of 2 Kings 2:23-25 (ironic how so many people condemn Elisha but will support this man’s actions). But the man went John Wick on them, as if he himself were Elisha. Both sides pled innocent. Luckily, one of the boys video’d the whole thing on his phone.
Watch the video here: Discretion Advised: Video shows moments before and after Apple River stabbing. When watching, it is easy to see how the man was gained up upon and why he took matters into his own hands. The boys acted like rapid animals. To make matters worse, bystanders came in to help but only made it worse. I was ashamed when I watched, how low humanity had sunken. Nobody realizes what happened until one of them is dead and another is gutted (he survived after several rounds of cpr in the ambulance and extensive surgeries).
During the court case, you can see in one of the boys the shame he felt when it was shown to the jury. How his actions got his friend killed.
Then the prosecution slows the video way down, and you see a different perspective. The man is no longer just defending himself. He sinks to their level. Watch the slow-mo here: State Opening Statements: WI v Nicolae Miu, Apple River Stabbings Trial.
Nicolae Miu, the man, got convicted of murder. And though the boys walked away, they will always carry the burden that if they didn’t act like monsters, their friend would still be alive.