Speedy Trial
In the United States of America an accused person has the right to a speedy trial. The Sixth Amendment says in part: In all criminal prosecutions, the accused shall enjoy the right to a speedy and public trial, by an impartial jury of the State and district wherein the crime shall have been committed. So if you are accused of a crime in the United States of America, you have the right to a speedy trial.
Please notice this right is for the accused. But what about the crimes that go unpunished? What about the criminals that get away with their crime? According to the Pew Research Center in March 2017, only 47% of violent crimes in America were reported to the police. Of the crimes reported, only 46% were cleared (or solved).
These are horrible statistics and I have to admit that I was surprised when I looked them up. It looks like most criminals get way with their crimes. The Bible even talks about this. Some people commit crimes because they aren’t immediately caught or punished. Ecclesiastes 8:11 states: Because sentence against an evil work is not executed speedily, therefore the heart of the sons of men is fully set in them to do evil.
Heart Of The Matter
The heart of the sons of men is fully set in them to do evil. This is the real issue, this is the heart of the matter. People do wicked things because their hearts are evil. People are not inherently good; no, human beings are inherently evil and it is because of evil hearts. Adam and Eve sinned in the beginning and we’ve all sinned since then. It is a heart issue. We disobey God, we reject God, we rebel against God because of an evil heart.
Please listen to this parable of Jesus: He answered and said unto them, Well hath Isaiah prophesied of you hypocrites, as it is written, This people honors me with their lips, but their heart is far from me. Howbeit in vain do they worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men. For laying aside the commandment of God, you hold the tradition of men, as the washing of pots and cups: and many other such like things you do. And he said unto them, Full well you reject the commandment of God, that you may keep your own tradition.
For Moses said, Honor your father and your mother; and, Whoso curses father or mother, let him die the death: But you say, If a man shall say to his father or mother, It is Corban, that is to say, a gift, by whatsoever you might be profited by me; he shall be free. And you allow him no more to do ought (or anything) for his father or his mother; Making the word of God of none effect through your tradition, which you have delivered: and many such like things you do.
What Comes Out Of A man Defiles Him
And when he had called all the people unto him, he said unto them, Hearken unto me every one of you, and understand: There is nothing from without a man, that entering into him can defile him: but the things which come out of him, those are they that defile the man. If any man have ears to hear, let him hear. And when he was entered into the house from the people, his disciples asked him concerning the parable.
And he saith unto them, Are you so without understanding also? Do you not perceive, that whatsoever thing from without enters into the man, it cannot defile him; Because it enters not into his heart, but into the belly, and goes out into the sewer, purging all meats?
And he said, That which comes out of the man, that defiles the man. For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, Thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lasciviousness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness: All these evil things come from within, and defile the man (Mark 7:6-23).
Evil Comes From Within Us
Evil comes from within us. We have all sinned against God. Think of every wicked thought that you’ve ever had. How many times have you smiled at a friend or a loved one, while secretly wishing they would fail or something bad would happen to them? Or you wished that you had their boyfriend or girlfriend, car, job, good looks or whatever it was you coveted about them.
How many times have you hated in your heart or how many times have you been angry without a righteous cause? Yes, committing sinful acts is obviously sinful, but Jesus holds us to a higher standard. Even your wicked thoughts pronounce you guilty. Jesus said: You have heard that it was said by them of old time, You shall not commit adultery: But I say unto you, That whosoever looks on a woman to lust after her has committed adultery with her already in his heart (Matthew 5:27-28).
Every time that you’ve looked at pornography, you have lusted, thereby committing adultery in your heart. Plus, every time that you’ve lusted after someone that you’ve see on TV, the movies or in person, you have committed adultery with that person in your heart.
We’ve All Sinned Just In Our Thought Life!
Folks, I hope you realize that we have all sinned and fallen short of God’s glory. Each and every one of us. None of us are righteous. I’ve shown you tonight how we’ve all sinned just in our thought life! I haven’t even gotten to swearing and blaspheming (our words) or our sinful actions (sins that we’ve physically committed). We are guilty before our righteous and Holy God. All of us are guilty.
The wages of sin is death. And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment (Hebrews 9:27). For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil (Ecclesiastes 12:14). But after your hardness and impenitent heart you treasure up unto yourself wrath against the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God; Who will render to every man according to his deeds (Romans 2:5-6).
There is judgment to come. Even though you may think that you’ve gotten away with your sins, you have not. Even though you may not have gotten a speedy trial, that doesn’t mean there isn’t punishment to come. There is justice coming. There is final judgment to come. Be sure your sins will find you out.
The Books Were Opened
And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them. And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works.
And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works. And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire (Revelation 20:11-15).
The books will be opened. Your sins are not hidden from Almighty God. He knows all your wicked thoughts, every swear word, every time you’ve blasphemed Him with your words, idolatry and your outright rebellion and rejection of the Lord. The books will be opened and you will be judged, by the righteous Judge.
Lord Or Judge
You see, Jesus will either be your Lord and Savior on that great day of the Lord or He will be your Judge on that terrible day of the Lord. It’s one day, but whether it’s a great day or terrible day will depend on where you are placing your trust.
If you are trusting in your own goodness or on anything or anyone else except for Christ alone, it will be a terrible day. You will bow your knee and confess with your tongue that Jesus is Lord and then He will have His servants cast you into the lake of fire and brimstone.
Oh, but if you have repented and surrendered your life to the Lord Jesus, Judgment Day will be a great day. You will not be found guilty. Not because of your righteousness, but because of the righteousness of Jesus alone. That is, if He is your Lord and Savior. If you have not surrendered your life to Jesus Christ the Lord, I plead with you to do so tonight. Don’t put it off.
Call Upon The Name Of The Lord
Today is the day of salvation. If God is convicting you over your sins and revealing His Holiness to you through the Lord Jesus, come to Jesus through repentance and faith. We are to have repentance toward God and faith in our Lord Jesus Christ (Acts 20:21). Recognize that you are a sinner. Confess your sins to God. Cry out for God to save you. Repent from your sins and submit your life to Jesus. Call upon the name of the Lord and be saved.
If Jesus is truly your Lord and Savior when you die, then you don’t have to worry about a trial in the next life, speedy trial or not. There won’t be a trial for you if you have surrendered your life to Jesus. The shed blood of Jesus, His sacrifice, His perfect, acceptable, pleasing sacrifice to our Holy Father God, cleanses you from all your sins. You will not be on trial after you die.
But if you die without Jesus as your Lord and Savior, you will be found guilty and you will suffer the torments of eternal punishment over your sins. Don’t continue racing toward Hell. Come to Jesus. Repent and believe the Gospel. Trust in Jesus Christ and Him alone for your salvation. Repent from your sins and put your faith in the risen Lord. Do this today and be saved.