My "Take-away" from the Anthony Trial

Along with most of America, I watched a great deal of the televised trial of Casey Anthony, accused of killing her two year old daughter. I came away with several realizations.

• Mankind, apart from God, is capable of incredible evil.
• Given a platform from which to promote oneself, ego can cause a person to lose sight of the initial goal.
• The observations of professional pundits are no better than mine.
• The law can be skewed in such a way as to tie the hands of a jury.
• American's will reward a self-professed liar with great riches and notoriety.
• Justice is only administered by the hand of God.

There is little doubt in anyone's mind that Casey Anthony at the very least knows what happened to her daughter. The zeal of the prosecution to gain a sensational victory led them to over-step logic in seeking the death penalty and dug a hole from which they could not recover. The instructions given by the judge put the jury in a difficult position. They seemed to have done the best they could within the parameters they were given. Most of them will be wracked with guilt that they were unable to convict of a lesser charge, though they feel Ms. Anthony was guilty.

My solace comes from Psalm 73. Just as Asaph, I am appalled that the obviously guilty party seems to go free. However, when I look at the situation from God's point of view, I realize that justice will be served. Mankind can not flaunt their evil in the face of Almighty God and go free. Ps. 73:18-19 "Indeed You put them in slippery places; You make them fall into ruin. How suddenly they become a desolation! They come to an end, swept away by terrors." (HCSB)

Unless those who were involved in the murder and cover up repent and turn to God, their destiny is sealed. It is not necessary for me to see their end to know what it will be. I must pray for their salvation.

Finally, the degradation of American society produces people who are capable of heinous crimes. Unless we as a country repent and return to God, we will suffer the fate of Sodom and Gomorrah. As Leonard Ravenhill once said, "If God does not judge America, He will need to apologize to Sodom and Gomorrah." The trial of Casey Anthony was actually a commentary on the spiritual desolation of America.