Getting Away With Murder

3-30pm

I could hardly believe my eyes when I came in and saw the ticker feed on the TV saying Dewani was a free man. Has he gotten away with murder?

There are so many questions left unanswered in this case. The South African justice system seems to have failed. A woman has been murdered and the person who appeared to have orchestrated the whole thing is found not guilty. It seems so unfair! I’ve heard people says, “we all know he did it.” Yet that doesn’t change the outcome from today.

Anni Dewani – photo from Times Live

I hate the anger and frustration that rises up within me as I think of this. I think of how unfair it all is. What can Anni’s family be feeling, knowing that he is guilty and seeing him walk away? I don’t want to see any reports on it. It’s just going to make me angrier.

If Shrien Dewani has got away with murder, it is only in this life.  Examples as to what the Bible says about justice:

Leviticus 19:15

“You shall do no injustice in court. You shall not be partial to the poor or defer to the great, but in righteousness shall you judge your neighbor.”

Ecclesiastes 3:16-17

” I have seen under the sun that in the place of justice there is wickedness and in the place of righteousness there is wickedness. I said to myself, “God will bring into judgment both the righteous and the wicked, for there will be a time for every activity, a time to judge every deed.”

There is a power struggle that goes on in this day and age that is based on greed and dishonesty. A lawyer may know his client is guilty and yet fight to defend him. He too will have to give account for his actions. In his eyes, a ‘not guilty’ verdict is a fantastic victory, yet if truth be told, if his client is guilty and he knows it,  it is no victory at all.

If Shrien Dewani is guilty, even though he is free, he will walk the remainder of his days in shackles. He knows in his heart what he has done and I know for sure that God sees the heart. You can hide from man – the justice system can fail – you can pull the wool over another’s eyes – BUT you cannot do any of this with God.

Hebrews 4:13

“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’s not about here and now. It’s not about what happens this side of eternity. One day we will die. We will have to give an account and be judged according to our actions. Better we acknowledge them while we still have breath.

Proverbs 28:17

A man tormented by the guilt of murder will be a fugitive till death; let no one support him.”

God is not mocked. He is a God of love and He loves each one of us. He is a merciful God and wants each of us to repent and get to know Him. But He is also a JUST God. He is fair. We have the opportunity to make right while we are on earth. But if we forgo that opportunity, we will be judged after we die and then we will have to face the consequences.

It’s tough to see this happen today. But it’s happened before and it will happen again. There is nothing new under the sun.

God will have the final say.

But the worst thing Anni’s family can be is bitter. Bitterness and resentment chew you up on the inside.  Someone once said, “Resentment is like drinking poison and waiting for the other person to die”. Believe it or not, the most healing thing Anni’s family can do for themselves is to lay the burden with Jesus and offer forgiveness to the perpetrators of this terrible crime.  It sounds impossible, but with God all things are possible. He will take care of the rest.

God bless you.

In His Grip,

Helga xx

Gratitude Pic…I have the Bible as my guide..