What the Word Says--Love for Enemies

I am wary at this time to believe that Osama Bin Laden was just taken out. There are so many secrets, so many political schemes, so many things that we will never know. We may not trust our government but we can trust in the One Who was, Who is and Who is to come. He is faithful, He is just, He is good and He is the One who will get the final word. The end is drawing near and wickedness will increase. With it, grace will abound even more. I need His grace every single day.

What grieved my heart the most was the celebration of a dead soul, one that will probably spend eternity in hell, separated from the love of God the Father. Don't get me wrong, what this man has done in his lifetime is heinous, grievous, evil and beyond comprehension. I do not consider myself a pacifist, as I would do whatever I could do to protect my children if such a monster threatened them. I believe that justice should be served, I believe that someone who is a cold blooded killer should be brought to justice. Of course I do.

However, I cringed and then I wept at how people, Christian and non Christian alike, were celebrating this alleged death. God Himself is willing that none would perish and His heart is grieved when a sinner dies and faces judgement. Just as we warn our children and make a way for them to choose better paths, we still love them and grieve when they go astray. 2 Peter 3:9 declares, "9 The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is long suffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance."

As I was weeping before the Lord, I feel that He gave me a vision. I am not one who commonly has waking visions, so I paid close attention. I saw the face of this terrorist as I stood in front of him and Jesus stood beside me. I heard Jesus say to me, "If you knew that your death could bring this man to salvation, would you be willing to lay down your life so that he could find Me?" Still weeping, I looked at Jesus and said, "Yes, Lord, yes." In that moment the weight of the Cross, the suffering of my Savior, the burden of my sin became more real to me than ever before. He took my sin upon Himself, He born the pain, suffering, shame and brutality of the Cross...for me.

All day, I pondered, "Bin Laden was some woman's baby, some mother's son..." What happened to make him so full of hatred? What hideous acts did he endure, witness and participate in that molded him into the monster he became? I don't know, but God does. That is why He sent His only Son, to die on the Cross. Jesus died for me. Jesus died for you. And, Jesus died...for Bin Laden.

Hear the words of our Savior, found in Matthew 5...

38 “You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.’ 39 But I tell you not to resist an evil person. But whoever slaps you on your right cheek, turn the other to him also. 40 If anyone wants to sue you and take away your tunic, let him have your cloak also. 41 And whoever compels you to go one mile, go with him two. 42 Give to him who asks you, and from him who wants to borrow from you do not turn away.

43 “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ 44 But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you, 45 that you may be sons of your Father in heaven; for He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. 46 For if you love those who love you, what reward have you? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? 47 And if you greet your brethren only, what do you do more than others? Do not even the tax collectors do so? 48 Therefore you shall be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect."