It is one of the most heartbreaking stories I have heard in recent years, the kicking to death of 9 year old Omaree Varela and there was little satisfaction found in the conviction of his step father Stephen Casaus for failing to intervene and stop the evil.
Casaus was sentenced to 30 years in prison because he did not stop Omaree’s mother from kicking him to death, she may see her trial begin next year.
What caught my attention enough to deal with this case was the plea given by Casaus to the judge. Casaus explained to Judge Whitaker, “I’m not a monster, I’m not an evil man,” Casaus said. “I’m a loving, kind, gentle, understanding man. Yes, I’ve made mistakes in my life like I’ve said, but I’ve owned up to that and I will pay for my mistakes, whatever I did wrong.”
The bible informs us the human heart is deceitfully wicked, we lie even to ourselves and we see this all the time today when we justify our actions, we rarely admit our wickedness.
Scripture also declares the failure to help those in need as sin, we are not allowed to pass on the other side and ignore people in their desperate situation. When Casaus choose to ignore the cries of Omaree Varela it was an evil act he was not kind, loving or gentle and that he is an evil monster.
We too commit evil when we fail to do what is right by our inaction. Not doing what we can to stop evil acts is also evil. That is what has happened to our country and our state as we allow abortion to continue or sin to be taught openly in our schools, evil is allowed to flourish because believers do stand up to it, if we would oppose the devil, he would flee.
“The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing.”