Sometimes the upside-down-ness of our world still stuns me. Though I so often encounter the bizarre nature of the present state of our world that it seems I am quite used to it, every once in a while I'm reminded how backwards we really are. The latest incident still left me stunned though I've encountered it multiple times before. So here it is:
Last week I handled a breaking and entering of a garage in which the suspects stole about $3,500 worth of property. A few days later a suspect was identified, located, and arrested. The 17 year old was just old enough to avoid the foolishness of our juvenile court system and faces 3 felonies and a high court misdemeanor charge as an adult.
A local judge set the bond for this suspect at $10,000. It was an appropriate amount. As soon as the judge set the bond the 17 year old's parents were at the station with a bondsman. A surety bond was posted and 22 hours after he was arrested, I released the suspect to his parents in the lobby of the station.
Now for the bizarro world: Out comes the suspect who was arrested for multiple felonies to smiling parents and siblings who greet him with hugs and kisses. Almost as if to say, "Well done, nice job, we are so happy for you."
The thought occurred to me, that if I at 17 years old were to commit such crimes, my parents would have quite a different response. First of all they never would have bonded me out. Second of all if I were to get out I'd have to face the just wrath of my dad (which would no doubt be worse than any punishment the court could hand out). I most certainly would not be greeted with hugs and kisses. I would have more likely been greeted by a severe punishment which would have made me want to volunteer to return to the jail cell.
And so I guess the massive grace of having decent parents in my life is why I ended up being a police officer. In the same way the lack of such massive grace in that 17 year old suspect's life resulted in him not fearing to do that which I would have been terrified to do.
It is not surprising that the suspect's mother has a criminal history record that is longer than my arm. It is one which her son would have to work at very hard for several years to exceed.
Still I'm shocked at how upside-down things can become once we lose the center of gravity of right and wrong. Things truly begin to look bizarre once we throw off the restraining grace of fearing the authorities which were set in place by God to keep the world from dissolving into anarchy.
I voiced my displeasure at releasing this knucklehead to his smiling family. One of the dispatchers who heard me said she thought that after so many years of doing this I'd be used to it. The sad thing is that after nearyly 10 years of doing this I am used to it, but it still bothers me. I hope I never get to a point where it doesn't bother me.
Showing posts with label Law Enforcement. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Law Enforcement. Show all posts
Tuesday, April 6, 2010
Monday, December 22, 2008
100 Car Pileup
Many motorists traveling in Michigan on I-94 took part in a 100 car disaster which claimed the life of one man and injured others. South Bend News Station WNDU covered the story here.
This horrible crash occurred in the post area I recently transferred from. Working a different shift and in another post area I did not have to respond to this incident. It is a tremendous grace that many more people were not hurt.
This horrible crash occurred in the post area I recently transferred from. Working a different shift and in another post area I did not have to respond to this incident. It is a tremendous grace that many more people were not hurt.
Friday, November 21, 2008
Sunday, November 16, 2008
Grace in the Midst of a Storm
Today the Michiana area had it's first battle with the coming winter. Niles sustained a few inches of snow before I got off work at 11pm.
At about 9:30pm, after just handling a minor weather related traffic accident, I responded to the scene of a vehicle in the ditch on US12. My patrol car was parked on the shoulder of US12 with the emergency lights activated as I awaited a tow truck to remove the stranded vehicle. As I walked back to my patrol car I opened the driver side door and looked up to see a vehicle sliding out of control towards me. With no time to go anywhere else I jumped up and stood on the floorboard of my car and pressed against the car as tightly as possible. The sliding vehicle quickly brushed by me and smacked into my open door, pealing it backwards. Photos may follow later.
Needless to say the two motorists who lost control of their vehicles received citations for this lack of control. Contrary to popular opinion, poor weather conditions are not excuses for losing control of one's vehicle. Rather the loss of control is evidence of the fact that one was going too fast for the weather conditions. For some reason people find this unreasonable? The man who was stranded in the ditch, and who watched as I was nearly hit, questioned the receiving of such a citation as he cited the fact that the road was snowy and slippery. My reply, "Exactly, all the more reason to drive with much caution and with reduced speeds in order to maintain control of your vehicle."
As providence would have it the lady who almost hit me was driving on a suspended license. An interesting coincidence with the last time I was almost hit. 2 years ago again in the midst of a snow storm on I-94 a suspended driver of a semi-truck lost control of the truck and came within feet of striking my parked patrol car as it crashed into the median and into a vehicle I had stopped to assist.
Again I'm reminded of tremendous and sovereign grace. A matter of a few inches could have resulted in significantly different results. There is One who draws the lines between protection and devastation. Today, again, I'm glad to have been on this side of that line. There may come a time when I may be on the other side of that line, and if that time ever comes, this same One will have drawn that line, for He alone draws such lines.
Psalm 68:20 (NIV)
Our God is a God who saves; from the Sovereign LORD comes escape from death.
At about 9:30pm, after just handling a minor weather related traffic accident, I responded to the scene of a vehicle in the ditch on US12. My patrol car was parked on the shoulder of US12 with the emergency lights activated as I awaited a tow truck to remove the stranded vehicle. As I walked back to my patrol car I opened the driver side door and looked up to see a vehicle sliding out of control towards me. With no time to go anywhere else I jumped up and stood on the floorboard of my car and pressed against the car as tightly as possible. The sliding vehicle quickly brushed by me and smacked into my open door, pealing it backwards. Photos may follow later.
Needless to say the two motorists who lost control of their vehicles received citations for this lack of control. Contrary to popular opinion, poor weather conditions are not excuses for losing control of one's vehicle. Rather the loss of control is evidence of the fact that one was going too fast for the weather conditions. For some reason people find this unreasonable? The man who was stranded in the ditch, and who watched as I was nearly hit, questioned the receiving of such a citation as he cited the fact that the road was snowy and slippery. My reply, "Exactly, all the more reason to drive with much caution and with reduced speeds in order to maintain control of your vehicle."
As providence would have it the lady who almost hit me was driving on a suspended license. An interesting coincidence with the last time I was almost hit. 2 years ago again in the midst of a snow storm on I-94 a suspended driver of a semi-truck lost control of the truck and came within feet of striking my parked patrol car as it crashed into the median and into a vehicle I had stopped to assist.
Again I'm reminded of tremendous and sovereign grace. A matter of a few inches could have resulted in significantly different results. There is One who draws the lines between protection and devastation. Today, again, I'm glad to have been on this side of that line. There may come a time when I may be on the other side of that line, and if that time ever comes, this same One will have drawn that line, for He alone draws such lines.
Psalm 68:20 (NIV)
Our God is a God who saves; from the Sovereign LORD comes escape from death.
Thursday, November 6, 2008
That's NOT the point...
Romans 1:24-25
24 Therefore God gave them up in the lusts of their hearts to impurity, to the dishonoring of their bodies among themselves, 25 because they exchanged the truth about God for a lie and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever! Amen.
The creation was never meant to become the recipient of worship. Rather it was created in such a way as to display the magnificence and excellence of the One who designed it. These are my thoughts after an unusual experience at work this evening.
"That's not the point..." I thought to myself as I pondered the condition of those who gathered in the small building to engage in severely misplaced worship. Thoughts of the end time reference to the "days of Noah" (Mat. 24:37) passed through my mind.
"That's not the point..." The creation was not meant to be an end in itself, but a means to the ultimate end - the worship of the Living God. Eternal majesty neglected for things infinitely less glorious and infinitely less satisfying.
At this point you're probably wondering what this unusual experience was. Suffice it to say that it was a vivid example of idolatry. A living illustration that will leave a lasting impression on me as to the folly of worshiping finite things and the evil of the wayward human heart. It would not be appropriate considering the focus of this blog to delve into further detail.
24 Therefore God gave them up in the lusts of their hearts to impurity, to the dishonoring of their bodies among themselves, 25 because they exchanged the truth about God for a lie and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever! Amen.
The creation was never meant to become the recipient of worship. Rather it was created in such a way as to display the magnificence and excellence of the One who designed it. These are my thoughts after an unusual experience at work this evening.
"That's not the point..." I thought to myself as I pondered the condition of those who gathered in the small building to engage in severely misplaced worship. Thoughts of the end time reference to the "days of Noah" (Mat. 24:37) passed through my mind.
"That's not the point..." The creation was not meant to be an end in itself, but a means to the ultimate end - the worship of the Living God. Eternal majesty neglected for things infinitely less glorious and infinitely less satisfying.
At this point you're probably wondering what this unusual experience was. Suffice it to say that it was a vivid example of idolatry. A living illustration that will leave a lasting impression on me as to the folly of worshiping finite things and the evil of the wayward human heart. It would not be appropriate considering the focus of this blog to delve into further detail.
Monday, August 18, 2008
12 Year Old Addicts?
During a traffic stop this last week I had an unusual encounter as I came across a 16 year old driver with a 15 year old passenger. A search of their vehicle resulted in locating 2 substantial baggies of crack cocaine.
What is unusual about this traffic stop is not finding the crack, as the area in which it was found is a high drug traffic area. Rather it is the age of the subjects who were found to be in possession of the narcotics. During a subsequent interview of the driver it was discovered that the 16 year old has been using crack since the age of 12.
This is devastating.
12 year olds are supposed to play with G.I. Joes and video games and enjoy playing various sports with their friends, not get addicted to crack. The grave concern in this incident is not that this is a rare thing, but that it is likely less rare than we know. Statistically speaking, if as a police officer I encounter two youngsters with such issues there are likely many more involved in such things.
As I write this I am reminded of another shockingly depraved incident in which two very young teenagers ran away from home and threw themselves into prostitution as well as other horrors of "street life."
Both of these incidents occurred in the inner city, which is not at all to say that these types of incidents are restricted to the inner city. Yet there is an inner city sub-culture in which such terrible things are not remotely uncommon.
The depravity of man is not limited to adults. It is clear that when children are exposed to greater levels of depravity in society they are greatly impacted and also often succumb to the levels of depravity with which they are surrounded. One only needs an occasional glimpse at national headlines to have an idea of the devastation that is involved when children are drafted into this street life, which includes but is not limited to narcotics use and distribution, prostitution and other illicit sex, violence, theft, and various other criminal activity.
All that to say this:
These incidents are powerful evidences that the need for intervention is enormous. There is an incredible need in our society to reach into the lives and culture of the inner city with the powerful and life-changing gospel of Jesus Christ. I am convinced that there is no other hope.
I came away from the interview with the 16 year old and his mother overwhelmed with the fact that the need in our society is so great.
What is unusual about this traffic stop is not finding the crack, as the area in which it was found is a high drug traffic area. Rather it is the age of the subjects who were found to be in possession of the narcotics. During a subsequent interview of the driver it was discovered that the 16 year old has been using crack since the age of 12.
This is devastating.
12 year olds are supposed to play with G.I. Joes and video games and enjoy playing various sports with their friends, not get addicted to crack. The grave concern in this incident is not that this is a rare thing, but that it is likely less rare than we know. Statistically speaking, if as a police officer I encounter two youngsters with such issues there are likely many more involved in such things.
As I write this I am reminded of another shockingly depraved incident in which two very young teenagers ran away from home and threw themselves into prostitution as well as other horrors of "street life."
Both of these incidents occurred in the inner city, which is not at all to say that these types of incidents are restricted to the inner city. Yet there is an inner city sub-culture in which such terrible things are not remotely uncommon.
The depravity of man is not limited to adults. It is clear that when children are exposed to greater levels of depravity in society they are greatly impacted and also often succumb to the levels of depravity with which they are surrounded. One only needs an occasional glimpse at national headlines to have an idea of the devastation that is involved when children are drafted into this street life, which includes but is not limited to narcotics use and distribution, prostitution and other illicit sex, violence, theft, and various other criminal activity.
All that to say this:
These incidents are powerful evidences that the need for intervention is enormous. There is an incredible need in our society to reach into the lives and culture of the inner city with the powerful and life-changing gospel of Jesus Christ. I am convinced that there is no other hope.
I came away from the interview with the 16 year old and his mother overwhelmed with the fact that the need in our society is so great.
Monday, February 11, 2008
Serious Snow
Here is a look at the sporadic visibility conditions (or lack thereof). This was taken from inside my patrol car while assisting with traffic control for a few accidents. Two officers were hit yesterday prior to my shift starting. The guys are fine, their cars not so much...
A reminder of the serious need for motorists to slow down during inclimate weather.
Drive safely.
Wednesday, January 30, 2008
Only in Michigan...
It was about 40 degrees yesterday as I left for work at 1pm. Now at about 7am it is 2 degrees with a windchill of around -20 degrees. Last night was one of the most hazardous shifts I have ever worked. The pounding rain changed to blizzard like conditions within minutes at about 8:15pm. Merely a few minutes later and the driving conditions were drastically reduced resulting in numerous cars and semi-trucks in the ditch.
My shift was prolonged an extra 2 hours as I assisted with traffic control for a semi-truck which became stranded in the center lane of I-94 when it's brakes locked up (not a good thing). When I was finally able to get off work and drive home the blinding wind/blowing snow was ridiculous. I was forced to turn back to work because I simply could not see where I was going. For the first time in my career I had to try to get some sleep at work (try is the key word). I had heard of other guys being forced to sleep at the post, but this was a first for me. Many times I've heard the phrase "You're not a trooper until..." but I'll just leave it at that.
Finally after a few hours of closing my eyes I decided to try again. The roads were still just a slick but the wind and blinding snow had slowed enough to allow me to see the road. I left at about 6:05am and got home at about 7:10am (20 miles).
The nagging question remains: Why do I live and work in Michigan?
On days like today I simply do not know...
My shift was prolonged an extra 2 hours as I assisted with traffic control for a semi-truck which became stranded in the center lane of I-94 when it's brakes locked up (not a good thing). When I was finally able to get off work and drive home the blinding wind/blowing snow was ridiculous. I was forced to turn back to work because I simply could not see where I was going. For the first time in my career I had to try to get some sleep at work (try is the key word). I had heard of other guys being forced to sleep at the post, but this was a first for me. Many times I've heard the phrase "You're not a trooper until..." but I'll just leave it at that.
Finally after a few hours of closing my eyes I decided to try again. The roads were still just a slick but the wind and blinding snow had slowed enough to allow me to see the road. I left at about 6:05am and got home at about 7:10am (20 miles).
The nagging question remains: Why do I live and work in Michigan?
On days like today I simply do not know...
Sunday, December 30, 2007
Thoughts after a night shift
Tired... home at 6:30 a.m.
Naiveté often flees as age comes. Years ago, as a teenager, I remember thinking the world certainly has a long way to go in order to reach the awful state of the days of Noah again.
Luke 17:26 Just as it was in the days of Noah, so will it be in the days of the Son of Man.
Mat 24:37 For as were the days of Noah, so will be the coming of the Son of Man.
I don't think that anymore. It was only shortly after beginning this job that my naivety began to encounter more reality. The state of decline in our society and world is to me astounding. On this night shift, 8p-6a, my partner and I investigated an incident where an irritated man shot his neighbor's dog, the family beagle whom the victim got for his son's birthday 2 years ago.
Shortly after that incident, during a traffic stop for a simple traffic violation in Benton Harbor we arrested the driver for CCW (carrying a concealed weapon - handgun). The 22 year old South Bend resident was headed to a party and said he was only carrying it "just in case." During my contact with South Bend PD to obtain further information on this suspect and the gun, I was informed that South Bend PD was investigating 3 shootings that occurred this night. I wonder how many of those shootings involved people who also were carrying "just in case." My thoughts quickly turned to my long time friend, who was working for SBPD tonight, and who only 8 months ago was involved in a shooting himself in which his partner and the suspect were killed.
I've stopped watching the news because of it's severely depressing content. I still catch headlines in the internet news sites which abound with sad and horrific events. Discussions have occurred with my wife regarding the wisdom (if any) in keeping the tv and allowing our family to be exposed to it's increasingly depraved content.
Noah's days were undoubtedly rough. Ours are very rough as well and are no doubt heading ever more rapidly in that direction.
Total Depravity...
The recent lessons from my journaling through the book of Job are helpful to me today; God has purposes in allowing such evil. He knows what He is doing, He is never out of control, the vision of Him seen more clearly through this darkness that He allows will be well worth the suffering that we experience on this journey called life.
I am very thankful for hope. Thankful for hope to one day see the glory of Jesus' face. Thankful for hope to one day to be separated from the pain and joined to the eternal satisfaction of God. I am thankful that though I am a sinner, Christ is a great Savior. I am full of hope in the midst of this dark world because God became Man and lived in the midst of this very same darkness and then died to bear the punishment for His people, in order that they might enjoy Him for eternity. Thank God for hope...
My heart has been saddened to be exposed to this darkness, but my heart is full of joy in knowing that God so loved the world that He gave His only Son, that whoever believes in Him might not perish but have everlasting life. There is a lifeboat in this down pouring rain which will no doubt result in a flood to cover the earth in filth and wretchedness. That lifeboat is Jesus and my hope is in Him.
2nd Corinthians 6:10
"Sorrowful yet always rejoicing"
Naiveté often flees as age comes. Years ago, as a teenager, I remember thinking the world certainly has a long way to go in order to reach the awful state of the days of Noah again.
Luke 17:26 Just as it was in the days of Noah, so will it be in the days of the Son of Man.
Mat 24:37 For as were the days of Noah, so will be the coming of the Son of Man.
I don't think that anymore. It was only shortly after beginning this job that my naivety began to encounter more reality. The state of decline in our society and world is to me astounding. On this night shift, 8p-6a, my partner and I investigated an incident where an irritated man shot his neighbor's dog, the family beagle whom the victim got for his son's birthday 2 years ago.
Shortly after that incident, during a traffic stop for a simple traffic violation in Benton Harbor we arrested the driver for CCW (carrying a concealed weapon - handgun). The 22 year old South Bend resident was headed to a party and said he was only carrying it "just in case." During my contact with South Bend PD to obtain further information on this suspect and the gun, I was informed that South Bend PD was investigating 3 shootings that occurred this night. I wonder how many of those shootings involved people who also were carrying "just in case." My thoughts quickly turned to my long time friend, who was working for SBPD tonight, and who only 8 months ago was involved in a shooting himself in which his partner and the suspect were killed.
I've stopped watching the news because of it's severely depressing content. I still catch headlines in the internet news sites which abound with sad and horrific events. Discussions have occurred with my wife regarding the wisdom (if any) in keeping the tv and allowing our family to be exposed to it's increasingly depraved content.
Noah's days were undoubtedly rough. Ours are very rough as well and are no doubt heading ever more rapidly in that direction.
Total Depravity...
The recent lessons from my journaling through the book of Job are helpful to me today; God has purposes in allowing such evil. He knows what He is doing, He is never out of control, the vision of Him seen more clearly through this darkness that He allows will be well worth the suffering that we experience on this journey called life.
I am very thankful for hope. Thankful for hope to one day see the glory of Jesus' face. Thankful for hope to one day to be separated from the pain and joined to the eternal satisfaction of God. I am thankful that though I am a sinner, Christ is a great Savior. I am full of hope in the midst of this dark world because God became Man and lived in the midst of this very same darkness and then died to bear the punishment for His people, in order that they might enjoy Him for eternity. Thank God for hope...
My heart has been saddened to be exposed to this darkness, but my heart is full of joy in knowing that God so loved the world that He gave His only Son, that whoever believes in Him might not perish but have everlasting life. There is a lifeboat in this down pouring rain which will no doubt result in a flood to cover the earth in filth and wretchedness. That lifeboat is Jesus and my hope is in Him.
2nd Corinthians 6:10
"Sorrowful yet always rejoicing"
Thursday, December 20, 2007
A striking example of depravity
While working the night shift recently I encountered three young people from the inner city. Two out of three of these young people have been charged with multiple felony home invasion charges, and the third will be charged at a later date.
Three police departments working together while investigating five felonious crimes developed these three suspects, interviewed them, and solved those five crimes which occurred on five different nights. Four home invasions and one burglary of a business were among the crimes that these young people were involved in. Thirteen, fourteen, and seventeen were their ages. The oldest currently sits in the county jail facing all these charges as an adult. The youngest and probably hardest of the three sits in the county juvenile center and faces the possibility of being charged as an adult. The fourteen year old awaits some of the very same charges to come at a later date.
These three demonstrated a hardness which is increasingly more common. Lies and disrespect riddled their behavior while in contact with several investigating officers.
The youngest, however, displayed a hardness of heart, mind, and life which have rarely been seen in people many years older than he. Absolute depravity is what came to mind. The fallen nature of mankind will fall to the lowest point possible given an absence from graces which otherwise restrain such living. Granted this young one lived in circumstances absent many such graces like a solid family unit, discipline, instillation of wisdom, and shielding from much exposure to the evils of our society.
Proverbs 29:15-18
The rod of correction imparts wisdom, but a child left to himself disgraces his mother. When the wicked thrive, so does sin, but the righteous will see their downfall. Discipline your son, and he will give you peace; he will bring delight to your soul. Where there is no revelation, the people cast off restraint; but blessed is he who keeps the law.
I watched as no less than 6 well trained and seasoned officers attempted to interview these three. Partial confessions were gained but officers were unable to obtain any information regarding the two handguns taken during these crimes. For a thirteen year old to defiantly lie, change his story, and restrain from telling the truth when confronted with such as these officers is still shocking to me, even after seven plus years in this line of work. Hardness of heart permeated their language and attitude. Most shocking was the fact that these officers were seasoned with a combined total of well over 100 years of law enforcement experience and these kids remained very much unshaken from so many lies. Experience tells me otherwise that it is usually not terribly difficult to obtain complete confessions from children of such ages.
For children such as these to so value more being “hard” as they call it, turns the stomachs of officers who all too often deal with this wickedness. Why police officers often become cynical with many such experiences is not difficult to see.
My finger points not at these children, who in many ways are products of our society’s state of deprivation, though this does not shirk them of their responsibility in such matters nor the consequences thereof. The judgment rather points out the condition of heart that so gravitates toward the pit and the grave. This fallen-ness lay not only in the hearts of criminals, but in yours and mine as well.
That the battle with sin in our own lives rages is proof enough. That there remains in our hearts desires which rival our desires for God is more evidence still. That your heart and mine would, only once (though we are all guilty of many more such offences), choose something over Him is nothing less than high treason and as such convicts us as guilty. The very same depravity lurking in the heart of that hardened thirteen year old, creeps around in the corners of our hearts as well. If as you read this you think, “my heart is not as bad as that.” Then you remain in the very dangerous place of not seeing your sin for the atrocity that it is. So great and terrible is sin that it took God in the flesh to unfetter our lives so desperately bound in it. It took the sacrifice of the God-Man, Christ Jesus, who endured our deserved punishment because of the outrage of sin. That He should suffer and die is the ultimate evidence that sin is atrocious, horrific, despicable, and vile.
Convicted as guilty we are, whether we see it or not. Yet there remains an answer for the sin in our hearts and in our world. It is the good news that Jesus died in order to save sinners like hardened thirteen year olds and like me.
Three police departments working together while investigating five felonious crimes developed these three suspects, interviewed them, and solved those five crimes which occurred on five different nights. Four home invasions and one burglary of a business were among the crimes that these young people were involved in. Thirteen, fourteen, and seventeen were their ages. The oldest currently sits in the county jail facing all these charges as an adult. The youngest and probably hardest of the three sits in the county juvenile center and faces the possibility of being charged as an adult. The fourteen year old awaits some of the very same charges to come at a later date.
These three demonstrated a hardness which is increasingly more common. Lies and disrespect riddled their behavior while in contact with several investigating officers.
The youngest, however, displayed a hardness of heart, mind, and life which have rarely been seen in people many years older than he. Absolute depravity is what came to mind. The fallen nature of mankind will fall to the lowest point possible given an absence from graces which otherwise restrain such living. Granted this young one lived in circumstances absent many such graces like a solid family unit, discipline, instillation of wisdom, and shielding from much exposure to the evils of our society.
Proverbs 29:15-18
The rod of correction imparts wisdom, but a child left to himself disgraces his mother. When the wicked thrive, so does sin, but the righteous will see their downfall. Discipline your son, and he will give you peace; he will bring delight to your soul. Where there is no revelation, the people cast off restraint; but blessed is he who keeps the law.
I watched as no less than 6 well trained and seasoned officers attempted to interview these three. Partial confessions were gained but officers were unable to obtain any information regarding the two handguns taken during these crimes. For a thirteen year old to defiantly lie, change his story, and restrain from telling the truth when confronted with such as these officers is still shocking to me, even after seven plus years in this line of work. Hardness of heart permeated their language and attitude. Most shocking was the fact that these officers were seasoned with a combined total of well over 100 years of law enforcement experience and these kids remained very much unshaken from so many lies. Experience tells me otherwise that it is usually not terribly difficult to obtain complete confessions from children of such ages.
For children such as these to so value more being “hard” as they call it, turns the stomachs of officers who all too often deal with this wickedness. Why police officers often become cynical with many such experiences is not difficult to see.
My finger points not at these children, who in many ways are products of our society’s state of deprivation, though this does not shirk them of their responsibility in such matters nor the consequences thereof. The judgment rather points out the condition of heart that so gravitates toward the pit and the grave. This fallen-ness lay not only in the hearts of criminals, but in yours and mine as well.
That the battle with sin in our own lives rages is proof enough. That there remains in our hearts desires which rival our desires for God is more evidence still. That your heart and mine would, only once (though we are all guilty of many more such offences), choose something over Him is nothing less than high treason and as such convicts us as guilty. The very same depravity lurking in the heart of that hardened thirteen year old, creeps around in the corners of our hearts as well. If as you read this you think, “my heart is not as bad as that.” Then you remain in the very dangerous place of not seeing your sin for the atrocity that it is. So great and terrible is sin that it took God in the flesh to unfetter our lives so desperately bound in it. It took the sacrifice of the God-Man, Christ Jesus, who endured our deserved punishment because of the outrage of sin. That He should suffer and die is the ultimate evidence that sin is atrocious, horrific, despicable, and vile.
Convicted as guilty we are, whether we see it or not. Yet there remains an answer for the sin in our hearts and in our world. It is the good news that Jesus died in order to save sinners like hardened thirteen year olds and like me.
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