On June 24, 1993, Jennifer Lee Ertman (14) and Elizabeth Pena (16) took a shortcut through Houston’s T.C. Jester Park around 11:30 p.m. (The park snakes along White Oak Bayou about a mile north of Hwy 290 and Antoine.) In their hurry to get home after a birthday party, the two girls walked past six young members of a group called “the Black and White Gang.” The six had been drinking and “jumping in” a new member, beating him for five minutes to gauge his fitness for the gang. When the girls walked past, the young men groped them, then grabbed them, then proceeded to rape them repeatedly before strangling them with belts and shoelaces, and leaving them dead in the woods deep in the park. Their bodies were not discovered for four days.
The horrible crime shocked the city and I have never forgotten it. Not only was the crime incredibly violent and evil, but the young men were not remorseful after they were apprehended. I remember seeing one young man on TV as he was being escorted into court. He was a little guy, escorted by two huge police officers. He was handcuffed behind his back, yet when he saw news cameras pointed at him, he began trying to kick the cameras and the reporters. He was the most hostile, violent person, and would later receive the death penalty for his crimes. I was outraged and his behavior made me yearn for justice. In fact, it was the first time an “anonymous” crime on TV evoked such rage in me. I looked at the TV and thought that guy deserves the death penalty. I remember wanting that for him, where all previous news stories had no real impact on me. But if that’s how I felt as a 25-year-old newlywed with no children, imagine how the fathers of the two girls felt–men who had invested a combined 30 years in their slain daughters.
Of course, this is only one of ten thousand similar stories. Horrible crimes happen around the world every day. Children are abused. Women are forced into sex slavery. The lives of the defenseless are crushed in a thousand different ways. The faithful are persecuted for their faith. Preachers are tortured and put to death. Journalists disappear, never to be seen again. Nations start wars, destroying millions of lives. Sometimes we are overwhelmed by the evil around us.
Christians love to speak of God’s grace and His mercy. Amen. God’s grace, mercy, and forgiveness are truly amazing.
But God is also a God of great justice. The Bible says “He doeth all things well” (Matthew 7:37) and one of the things God does well is justice. He is patient, but don’t think God does not see. He sees and He will bring JUSTICE.
“The Lord is slow to anger, but great in power. The Lord will never leave the guilty unpunished” Nahum 1:3.
“Beloved, do not avenge yourselves, but rather, leave room for the wrath of God. For it is written, ‘Vengeance is mine, I will repay” Romans 12:19.
God, show us when to fight for ourselves and our loved ones—and when to leave room for the wrath of God. Show us how to forgive and how to welcome Your divine Justice.
ΑΩ
Household Words: 