Love your Enemy

Ah, how easy those words are to say, but how hard are they to put into action.

And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love. - 1 Corinthians 13:13

“You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor^h and hate your enemy.’ 44But I tell you: Love your enemiesⁱ and pray for those who persecute you, 45that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. -Matthew 5:43-45

Do not rejoice when your enemy falls, and do not let your heart be glad when he stumbles -Proverbs 24:17

These verses were not written years ago for the people then, but rather for us now. For the future. For the present. These words, if you choose to listen to them, are convicting. This man, Osama Bin Laden, killed thousands. Maybe even more. He cruelly laid out plans and had intentions to harm so many innocent people around the world - and he succeeded. September 11, 2001 was a painful day in American history, whether you personally lost a loved one or not. For those, like me, who didn't, it was still terrifying that several terrorists were able to board our planes and successfully crash them into buildings. Not once have I gotten on a plane and I've wondered "is this the last time I'll leave ground?" It's a scary thought. Bin Laden was successful in his mission that day - to place fear in our hearts. He caused so much pain to our nation as a whole, and here, 10 years later, we feel victorious that we've "beaten" him. He's dead. Gone. Forever.

My first instinct, was "why are we celebrating?" I didn't think that because of the verses I listed above, but rather because he was not the one on the planes who did the harm. I know that he was a leader to those terrorists and it was his plans, but still. He's not the only one who could be a terrorist leader. He was not special in that sense. Some people's statuses have jokingly said "will the restrictions on planes be lifted now?" I hope to GOD they won't. I understand that killing Bin Laden was a victory for our country. But he's one man. And although he was powerful, I bet he's not the last powerful mastermind. Just a thought.

After that thought, I was sad. Some of you may think "oh, she just isn't a proud, true American." I understand he caused pain and suffering to our nation, and I grieved with our country when he did. I just cannot celebrate his death. For the families who had loved ones taken away, I can understand the peace they may have in their hearts. The same goes to any family who's son or daughter was murdered and they get to see that murderer put away in prison or put to death. But it's still sad.

As you all know, Easter was just the other week. We rejoiced because JESUS died for our SINS. And what a heavy burden he carried - the word sin encompassed ALL sins - those from lying about little things to killing THOUSANDS of people. Jesus died for me. Jesus died for you. Jesus died for Hitler. And Jesus died for Osama Bin Laden. Jesus wants to forgive Bin Laden as much as he wants to forgive me. It's a matter of if we ask Him to or not. And it breaks my heart to think Bin Laden (most likely) chose not to ask. Before you go crazy on me - I am not necessarily a "forgive and forget and everyone's happy and there's no punishment." There's no doubt in my mind that Jesus was angry at Bin Laden. I mean DUH, he killed God's chosen ones. Anger is not a bad thing. BUT, Jesus still forgives.

I remember the night when Saddam Hussein was beheaded. I don't remember what day or even what year. I just remember the news covering it - letting us know exactly when it happened. I went up to my room, got out my prayer journal, and prayed for Hussein. I remember begging God to show himself to Hussein before he was killed. And I cried for him. I tried to put myself in his position - imagining myself walking up to the stand where I was to be beheaded, knowing my time and punishment had come. I can't begin to fathom knowing what that must be like...but I tried. I don't know whether Hussein ever believed or if he died without knowing the perfect love of Jesus, and it breaks my heart.

It breaks my heart that Bin Laden didn't believe. It breaks my heart Hussein didn't, and Hitler didn't, and Stalin didn't, and the guy down the street might not. We like to think Jesus happily gave up his life for us personally, and our "minor" sins compared to other peoples'. But Jesus loved the mass murderers, too. Love is a powerful word - go look up 1 Corinthians 13 to see EXACTLY what love means. It's pretty radical.

Jesus, God, the Holy Spirit...they all command us to LOVE our enemies. The mass murderers. The drug addicts. The promiscuous. The greedy. The sinners. The liars. All of them. We were all made in HIS image and He loves us no more than He loves them, too.

Just food for thought.