Foreglow
Living in the Light of the Coming Son

I’ve been pondering the significance of Osama bin Laden’s death ever since it was first announced. I was immediately struck by the celebratory mood of most Americans who rejoiced at the news of bin Laden’s demise. I didn’t feel quite the same. While I understand the reasons for America’s rejoicing, I also felt a sense of sadness. As you know from a previous post (Pray for a Terrorist), I’d been praying for Osama bin Laden since 9/11. I was praying that God would raise him up and turn him around, that Jesus would reveal himself to bin Laden and use him to reach out to the Muslim world in much the same way Saul (later Saint Paul), after Jesus revealed himself to Saul on the Road to Damascus (see Book of Acts in the Bible),  was used to minister the message of Christ to the Jewish, and later, the non-Jewish world.  Upon hearing the news of bin Laden’s death, I felt an almost immediate sorrow for here was a man who, barring some unknown conversion, went into eternity without Christ, and consequently, without hope.  Beyond that, this was a man who might have been used by God in wonderful and almost unimaginable ways, someone who could have made a difference in the eternal destiny of many people. I don’t know whether the grace of Jesus Christ ever became a reality in bin Laden’s life, but I do know that any hope of him having a positive impact for the Gospel is gone, and that saddens me greatly. This was not the way I wanted things to work out. I know, however, that God, in his eternal wisdom, will use even this tragic event to build hid kingdom.

Some additional thoughts on the death of Osama bin Laden can be found at:

http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2011/mayweb-only/osama-justice.html

http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2011/mayweb-only/osama-celebration.html

http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2011/mayweb-only/osama-bible-twitter.html