Judgment

For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ,

 so that each one may receive what is due

 for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil.

2 Corinthians 5:10

 

Yesterday, July 10, in a packed courtroom in Boston, the Boston Marathon bombing suspect, Dzhokhar Tsarnaev, pleaded Not Guilty to each of the 30 charges against him, including the use of a weapon of mass destruction.  If those in the courtroom - including police, media, survivors, and the families of the victims - expected to see a young man who was scared, humbled and remorseful, they were sadly disappointed.  The suspect was described by those in observance as "bored, nonchalant, and smug."  His sisters were in attendance, and he had smiles and kisses for them. Those sitting behind him - the survivors of the Marathon bombings - never received as much as a glance. 

I am not surprised that this young man is taking a devil-may-care attitude.  The motivations for the attack were cemented in his character long before the bombs actually went off.  He knew exactly what he was doing, and he did it with terrifying efficiency.  It has been reported that he scribbled the why's and wherefore's for his actions on the inside of the boat in which he was hiding.  I'm sure these writings will eventually be revealed during his trial.  

At times like this, I think it would be wonderful if God could come down and take a seat in the courtroom.  We only have the outward actions of this young man to judge him by.  God, on the other hand, sees past the exterior into the issues and motivations of the heart.  He knows exactly what was going on in Tsarnaev's head - facts that both the prosecution and the defense would love to be privy to.

The Apostle Paul says that every individual on earth will eventually appear before God's throne of judgment to answer for what we have done in our time here on earth.  We will be judged by His Law - the law that He broke down into two understandable precepts:

1. Love God with all your heart and soul
2. Love your fellow human beings (neighbor) as you love yourself.

I have no idea what Dzhokhar Tsarnaev's relationship with God was or is, but his actions on April 15 reveal a young man who had no regard whatsoever for the lives of his neighbors:  the men, women and children on the streets of Boston.