There is no shortage of blogging about the death of the Number 1 enemy of the United States. For me it has been a sobering reminder of the consequences of offending a great power. Osama Bin Laden's execution seemed an inevitable conclusion to the events of 9/11 and I am grateful for the service of justice for those personally affected as well as for the healing process of the people of the United States of America. The action of the Navy SEALS in the mddle of the night, this week, seemed to come swiftly and as I understand the facts, brought upon the intended target an insurmountable calamity. Even the cleverly crafted measures designed to protect himself from this outcome (I read that he even burned his trash rather than set it out for pick-up) did nothing to alter the certainty of Bin Laden's demise.
What stirs in my own mind is the awareness of what these physical events depict for me spiritually. I have offended the Holiness of the Almighty God! I could try to handle the "trash" of my own sin by doing "religious things" in an attempt to cover my tracks but it will be to no avail. It is a certainty that my sins will find me out...and they are bad...very bad. In fact, they are immeasurably worse than any human being on human being offense. Therefore, my consequences will be similar to the Taliban leader's. However, my sentence will be carried out to a much greater and eternal extent, for I have offended the One Who can not only destroy my body but also my soul. This is a certainty. There is no changing it...no getting around it. Blood must be shed for my crime against the Creator. It is the same for every human being as there is only One Man Who has not committed this crime. The realization of this inevitable fact is called "coming to yourself" and it is the turning point of salvation for all.
Therefore,we must carefully consider this truth, lest a critical point escape us. It would seem the problem does not lie in the over-exaggeration of the seriousness of Bin Laden's and Al-Queda's sin (that would be humanly impossible). It is in the underestimation of the heinous nature of our own. So, here is this week's message for us: "Repent! Your calamity is imminent!" We have offended The Great Power and His justice is swift. There will be no getting out of it...no rationalizing that there are worse and more deserving enemies of His that should get the brunt of His wrath. Come to yourself and acknowledge that His ways are just and good. Express gratitude for His Son Jesus Christ and the execution upon a Roman cross that brought about His blood shed and our redemption! And as you consider your own thoughts on this topic, I encourage you to let this well-traveled verse wash all over you...
"For God so loved the world that He gave His only Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life." John 3:16