I once thought the stereotypes of outlaws in the rural South were unfair characterizations. Then, I began a career in law enforcement… I’ve come to realize that not all the caricatures are incorrect. There are pockets of people in rural America whose family trees do not appear to branch. And, I’ve interacted with a few of them over the years.

I’m not sure why, but law enforcement has a symbiotic relationship with these interesting outlaws. They tend to involve us in most of their family issues and disputes. Some of them have called us hundreds of times over the years. Every reminiscent story that cops tell over coffee will include tales of these people. Their repeated calls for service create the foundation of much of our on-the-job training. There is no crisis they haven’t experienced. Years later, we still remember their names.

One such clan I knew squatted on commercially owned woodlands for decades. Each member of the family built a shack on adjoining hills. During family disputes, they shot at each other’s hill. None of them had a straight tooth in their head. They made their living by illegally harvesting timber from other people’s land.

During one of my visits to this community, one of our regulars reported that her house had been shot into. Her name was Jeaner. Though at birth, her name was most likely Jeana, years of poor pronunciation changed it permanently to Jeaner. A local news outlet heard about the shooting and wanted to do a story. I felt compelled to warn them first. “You guys need to be prepared before you go,” I said.

The reporter returned wide-eyed. Jeaner was everything as described and more. He didn’t know such people existed. Though Jeaner’s teeth protruded unimpeded, horizontally from her mouth, that did not prevent her from articulating a string of expletives to describe the “sum-*****” who shot her trailer. Neither gracious speech, nor orthodontics, were priorities in Jeaner’s world. These were hillbillies without hills, unmolested by civilization.

Though we often wondered, no one knew if a shallow gene pool contributed to their issues. It was clear, however, that their criminal behavior did. Their station in life bore witness to their refusal to live within societal rules. They violated the statutes of God and man, and it came at a cost.

When God’s precepts are treated with contempt, society always suffers. We reap the expected consequences of our folly. This is the sinful nature of man. Though I often think too highly of myself, I am no better a human specimen than those I have described. I too have violated the statutes of the Almighty. Like them, it is for me that Christ had to die. We all live in this mess we have made.

Things weren’t always this way. Thankfully, they won’t remain so forever. God promises to restore His creation to its original perfection. He says, “I am making everything new!” (Revelation 21:5) There is a kingdom coming. One where the King will reign in righteousness and justice. And, it will never end. Don’t miss this. Please don’t miss this.

Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. ‘He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death’ or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.” (Revelation 21)