“I’ve never wished a man dead, but I have read some obituaries with great pleasure.” — Mark Twain
Above all, you must understand that in the last days scoffers will come, scoffing and following their own evil desires. They will say, “Where is this ‘coming’ he promised? Ever since our ancestors died, everything goes on as it has since the beginning of creation.” But they deliberately forget that long ago by God’s word the heavens came into being and the earth was formed out of water and by water. By these waters also the world of that time was deluged and destroyed. By the same word the present heavens and earth are reserved for fire, being kept for the day of judgment and destruction of the ungodly.
But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day. The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.
But the day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything done in it will be laid bare. — 1 Peter 3
I must admit that in the midst of my “great pleasure” over the obituary of Osama bin Laden, I am having great trouble maintaining a sober balance. So, let his death be a reminder to me that “there but for the grace of God” go I. Let his death be a reminder to me that the Lord did not wish me to perish, but instead redeemed me and bought me for his very own. Let his death be a reminder of the Life that the Father has freely given me in his beloved Son. Let his death remind me that the path of scoffers leads to destruction while the path of the humble leads to redemption.
Christ is Risen from the dead, trampling down death by death, and upon those in the tombs bestowing life!
Frederica Mathewes-Green said it much better than I could:
I hesitate to say this, because it’s just going to attract a lot of hate mail, but I am praying for the Lord to give rest to the soul of Osama Bin Laden. It’s possible in theory that he had a moment at the end when he saw the Lord’s glory and was penitent. If “love your enemies” means anything at all, it has to include this.
Our God desires that ALL should be saved. We should desire the same.
apparently, God does not wish for you to have time to reflect personally at this moment, He keeps coming up with news you must reflect on instead! I did hear a verse from Proverbs on the radio today…an admonition to not take delight in the fall of our enemies and I admit I am having difficulty with that at this moment. Still praying for those in your area facing such tremendous difficulties…is there anything I can do to help?
I too in the middle of the night sleepless felt somehow guilty that I should rejoice as Mark Twain says in this particular obituary and prayed Lord Have Mercy on us all and that includes bin laden. At the same time, I was ever so grateful for the military who accomplished the task of justice for those killed on 9/11. I was shocked to hear some radio talking heads upset about the burial at sea and the respect shown to the body hearing suggestions about dragging through the streets and chopping up the body and letting pigs eat it and such horrors. He may have done evil, but he was still a human being made in God’s image. I am glad we did not stoop to the level of those who drag bodies through the streets and such. Alix