Have you seen the news today? Osama bin Laden is dead. President Obama issued the order and a small special operations team went in and killed bin Laden. Not a single US soldier was injured. The President announced last night at 11:30 p.m. U.S. troops succeeded in their attack on the compound where he was staying. People in the United States broke out into spontaneous cheers, chants and even singing of the national anthem when they learned the news. Obama said “Justice has been done.”
I have to admit, I am thankful to know bin Laden will not be able to direct future attacks on our country. I believe he paid an overdue debt for the over 3,000 deaths he was responsible for on September 11th.
I’ve found myself wondering what it was like when he came face to face with Jesus. What went through his mind when he realized Jesus was real and he had it all wrong? Psalm 9:7 is clear “The LORD reigns forever; He has established His throne for judgment.” Isaiah 66:16 declares bin Laden’s destiny “For with fire and with His sword the LORD will execute judgment upon all men, and many will be those slain by the LORD.”
What about you and me? Are we without spot or blemish? 1 Peter 4:7 says judgment begins with the family of God. Fortunately for us, when the accuser stands before God to tell of our sins, Jesus will be standing beside us telling the Father He paid our debt in full and He wiped our slate clean, removing our sin as far as the east is from the west [Psalm 103:12].
What about those who don’t know Jesus? Romans 10:14-15 says “How, then, can they call on the One they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the One of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? And how can they preach unless they are sent? As it is written, ‘How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!’” There is a world full of people who don’t know Jesus. They have no one to stand in their defense when the accuser begins his attack on them. We can help! We’re called to help. We cannot make a defense for them before God, but we can share the Gospel with them before they arrive. We can introduce them to the One who can change the outcome of their destiny.
In Matthew 28:19, Jesus commanded us to do so. Read it carefully. It wasn’t a suggestion…it was a command. “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit” [Bold print and italics mine]. All nations mean those on the other side of the world but it also means the one we live in as well. God commanded it and He expects us to do it. It is time for us to listen to our Commander and Chief and follow His orders.