Would you be presumptuous enough to think you can know the condition of another person’s heart? The prophet Jeremiah tells us, “The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it?” (Jeremiah 17:9). This being true, how could we begin to even suggest that we know the heart of another when we can’t even know our own?

Even bolder yet, would you be self-confident enough to take personal responsibility for the eternity of another person’s soul? We live in an age crowded with false doctrine. Consequently, there is confusion rather than certainty about eternal life. While the apostle John tells us that it is quite possible to have eternal assurance for our own soul through faith in Christ (1 John 5:13), it is impossible to indisputably discern the sincerity of another’s relationship with God.

Just a little over a month ago, the whole world, it seemed, watched as Michael Schiavo contended that he both knew the desire of his wife’s heart and the destiny of her soul. With his relentless determination to remove Terri Schiavo’s feeding tube, he brazenly took responsibility for sending her soul to either eternal rest with God—or eternal separation from God.

While there are likely none that wish for the latter, the fact remained that none of us can really be sure. In the aftermath of Terri Schaivo’s death, we must never lose sight of the fact that a woman’s very soul was in play—manipulated by those who presumed to know the eternal consequences of their decisions. What then would drive Michael Schaivo to prematurely risk placing his wife’s soul into eternal peril? Wouldn’t it have been better to instead err on the side of caution, hope and possibility?

Without debasing the serious nature of this tragedy, I am reminded of a powerful scene in the movie, “The Fellowship of The Ring,” in which the wizard, Gandalf, counsels the young hobbit, Frodo, on just such a matter as this.

In their quest to destroy the ring of power, Frodo and his eight companions find themselves traversing the inner bowels of the Misty Mountains through what are known as the Mines of Moria. While stopping to take a rest in the dark cavernous passages, Frodo is alarmed at the distant sight of an unknown creature, slinking in the dark recesses of the mines. Gandalf calmly informs Frodo that it is Gollum, the wretched creature from which Frodo’s Uncle Bilbo had originally obtained the ring so many years before. Distressed that Gollum has escaped captivity and is now following them, Frodo presumptuously states, “It’s a pity Bilbo didn’t kill him when he had the chance.”

Taken aback by Frodo’s impulsive verdict, Gandalf quickly challenges his young friend with a memorable and thoughtful response: “Pity? It was pity that stayed Bilbo’s hand. Many that live deserve death and some that die deserve life. Can you give it to them Frodo? Do not be too eager to deal out death and judgment. Even the very wise can’t see all ends.”

With the courts refusing to stay Michael Schiavo’s hand, Terri Schiavo gave up her last breath March 31 after being cruelly starved and dehydrated to death. With this, it became painfully obvious that Gandalf was all too right. Many, it seems, are too eager to deal out death and judgment.

Michael Schiavo, who had waged a years-long court battle to remove his wife’s feeding tube, was too eager to deal out death and judgment.

Circuit Court Judge George Greer, while none too eager to reopen discovery in the case, was instead all too eager to deal out death and judgment. With the removal of Terri’s feeding tube, Judge Greer ordered the death of an innocent woman based on nothing more than inconclusive medical evidence and the testimony of an unfaithful husband.

Behind Michael Schiavo and Judge Greer were a chorus of secular politicians, the ACLU and a host of state and federal court judges who were either shockingly indifferent or all too eager to deal out death and judgment.

Ignoring the heartbroken pleas of Terri’s immediate family, or the possibility that God could eventually provide miraculous healing, those who were eager to deal out death and judgment doggedly pursued Terri Schiavo’s demise right down to the bitter end.

Presuming the condition of one’s soul is very perilous ground. Today, only God and Terri Schiavo know beyond a shadow of a doubt the status of her eternity. While there is no question surrounding the diligence and tenacity with which Mr. Schiavo pursued his objective, it is also dangerous to even begin to try and understand or judge the motives of his heart (1 Corinthians 4:5).

One can only rest in the fact that Michael Schiavo will eventually stand before a holy and just God to give an account (Romans 14:12 and Hebrew 4:13). In the meantime, it is a sad irony that a fictitious wizard in tattered gray robes is wiser than a multitude of real-life judges adorned in black robes. Even in our judicial system, the very wise can’t see all ends.

James B. Teela is a Director of Sales for a large Tier I automotive parts supplier. Residing in Brighton, Mich., he is also a freelance writer who enjoys writing about politics, social issues and his faith. He welcomes your comments at ehhype@juno.com.