YOU HAVE THE RIGHT TO REMAIN SILENT
You have the right to remain silent. Anything you say can be used against you in the court of law. You have the right to an attorney. If you cannot afford an attorney, one will be appointed to you.
This warning, or something like it, has to spoken to accused criminals since it came into law in 1966. Named the Miranda Warning after the landmark Miranda vs. Arizona court case in which a man was convicted of a crime without a complete understanding of his rights, or so goes his defense. Ernesto Miranda, a man who pled guilty to a rape he admitted to during interrogation, was let go because of his lawyer and because the way the law was interpreted by the judge.
The same is true in the spiritual realm. One day, you, I, my wife, your kids, all of us, we will stand before God and in front of the judgment throne. We will give an account of how we have kept the law, kept God’s degrees that He had given us to live by during our lifetime. Though it is easy for us to pull the trigger and feel anger about Miranda walking free after his admission to a heinous crime, do we give us ourselves a much lesser sentence?
Here’s the deal, put yourself on trial. For the sake of the argument, put aside the hundreds of Old Testament laws, take a closer look at only the Ten Commandments and see how you grade out
1) You shall have no other gods before me. Have you ever placed something in your life as higher importance than God?
2) You shall not make for yourself an idol…. Okay, maybe we don’t make bronze statues and worship them. But have you ever said “The God I believe in…”? Seriously, if we are worshipping any other God than the one in the scriptures, we absolutely are worshipping a graven image, a false God. Have you ever worshipped your image of God in place in the true One?
3) You shall not misuse the name of the Lord your God. Ever used God’s name as a cuss word? That’s called blasphemy.
4) Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy. Have you ever missed worshipping the Lord on His day? Though there’s more to it than that, it is a sin.
5) Honor your father and mother. If you’re like me, you’ve broken that one countless times.
6) You shall not murder. Before you say no. Ever hated someone? 1 John 3:15 states that anyone who hates his brother is a murderer at heart.
7) You shall not commit adultery. Ever been intimate with anyone who is not your spouse? Ever lusted? Take a look at Matthew 5:28 for those that dare.
8) You shall not steal. Ever stolen anything? Anything at all. Whether I take one dollar from your wallet or ten, it’s still stealing right? No illegally downloaded music? No extra drink at the gas station fountain soda?
9) You shall not lie. For those of us who have, which is all of us, that makes us liars.
10) You shall not covet. Ever wanted what someone else has?
You’re guilty? I’m guilty too. In fact, I am guilty of not just a few of the commandments, but all of them! If I were to stand before God on judgment day, I would absolutely be found guilty. How about you? Would you be found innocent or guilty? And if guilty, where would you end up…heaven…or…hell?
But there is good news, for those who want a lawyer appointed to us, there is a man who is willing to rush into your place and tell the judge that the price has been paid in full. His name is Jesus. And for those who give their life to him (not just say a mute prayer of little substance, giving one’s life to Christ produces fruit if it is true) will receive the greatest and most unbelievable pardon in the world. Though Christ, despite being a convicted criminal, we are let go.
My dear friends…Do you understand these rights as they have been read to you?