NOT Guilty

After 33 days of testimony, 400 pieces of evidence, and more than 90 witnesses, the jury in the Casey Anthony trial had reached a verdict. The media covered the world for more than 8 weeks with this astounding story of a mother accused of killing and disposing the body of her then 2 year old daughter. The prosecution composed their case on the premise that the mother, Casey Anthony (25 years of age), was a promiscuous, self-centered woman who became a cold-blooded killer. The motive, prosecutors alleged, was to allow her to live a carefree life without her daughter.

CNN, Fox News, and all major affiliates covered the reaction of the flabbergasted forum of parents that heard the verdict. I myself, not yet a parent, heard the verdict and was in a state of shock. People said, “OJ number two,” as they were asked to share their emotions live on the air with the rest of the world.

Sitting back, I began to think to myself, many of us should be accused of the same crime. We may have not killed a 2 year old girl nor hid the body, but we are sure guilty of something similar. What happened to the sins you committed and hid for no one to see or find out about? The dream of God that you have chosen to choke neonatal and hide for no one to account for? The fact is that you should be guilty. What blew me away about the case from beginning to end is that the defense thought this was an “open and close book” type case. 

Midway through the trial, Casey began to blame her father and mother. She stated that an abusive relationship, distorted childhood, and sexual abuse is the cause of her unbalanced emotions. Surprisingly, many of us try the same scheme. The difference is that we blame it on God and on our Pastors. We say that it is His/their fault when things don’t go in our favor. We begin to question God and ireluctantly blame our Pastors for the opposition we encounter because of the gift that we possess. We fail to understand, “to whom much is given, much is required.” The gift (child) that God has given you demands a lot from you. It demands your attention, compassion, consideration, and overall; your time. Many gifted people don’t understand this. They expect the gift to grow but don’t invest anytime into it. The word “Christian” denotes to mean “Christ-like.” This doesn’t mean fellowship, but discipleship. This means: the people I used to hang with, I can’t hang out with any longer. The people I used to talk to, I can’t talk to any longer. Why? Because "the wrong people will choke and impede the gift of God from growing into what God purposed for it to be." - Pastor A. Santiago

This allegory reminds me of a man in the Bible that was given a talent. Because he didn’t understand it’s importance, he dug a hole in the ground and hid it (Matt 25:18). Your baby needs to breathe. It requires oxygen in order to live and grow. Unfortunately, many have acted like the still unidentified culprit in this crime. They have taken what God has given them and hid it in the ground for no one to find until the time comes to show what you have done with that gift. There’s a reason why God has impregnated you with a dream. Casey has responded to twelve jurors, but one day she will have to respond to one God that will ask, “What did you do with the gift (child) I have given to you?” You may not ever stand before a grand jury, but you will one day stand before a Great God.

The truth is, that YOUR verdict should've been guilty; BUT God. When a jury of your peers find you guilty, the only thing that they should find you guilty of is His unconditional Love and Favor. If you were to really analyze the evidence, it was stacked up against you! It should have been an "open and close" case. As the enemy prepared his arguments, approached the bench, and after making his [very true] closing statements, You should have received the death sentence for the sins you committed; BUT God. What turned the case around was the fact that a lot of the evidence brought against Casey was inadmissible, because it was circumstantial. When God steps in, He begins to find the evidence stacked up against you inadmissible. It is inadmissible because while the enemy tries to find the incriminating evidence, all he will find is the evidence of the blood of Jesus. The blood will cover every plan of the enemy to destroy you. His hand of Mercy will pull you out of the circumstance and His Grace will give you the power to stay out of it.

Lead defense attorney Jose Baez remarked something that remains in my conscious. He said, “We should take this as an opportunity to know that you cannot convict someone until they have had their day in court. “  By profession he understands that you cannot convict someone of a crime based on suspicion. We seem to judge each other based on suspicion without having all the facts. While God is trying to draw them near, you are pushing them away because they look "suspect." The greatest benefit of the blood is when the enemy finds you guilty and calls you before the jury, you won’t have to defend yourself. Jesus will become your defense and your shield. “He will cover you with His feathers, and under His wings you will find refuge.” (Psalms 91:4)

You are NOT Guilty!

Guilt is ever present in people that try to defend themselves and allow the enemy to manipulate them in any which way possible. Even after people forget what you have done, the enemy will bring it back to the light and convict you all over again as though it were the first time! If you don’t believe me, where is OJ Simpson?