A Victory?

     Yelling, cheering, singing and parties is a good way to describe what I saw last night. People were burning photos of a man who brought a lot of pain and suffering to this nation. Flags were flying and people were chanting USA, USA, USA, USA, USA. They were celebrating the death of a terrorist. 
     As I sat watching the live feeds from Ground Zero, Times Squire, and the White House, tears started running down my face. My heart started hurting for the families who lost loved ones September 11, 2001. Part of me wanted to yell and cheer with the crowds, but the other part just wanted to cry. All the news stations were saying what a victory for the USA. The President made an address to the nation; it was a night to rejoice. Or was it? 
     My mind started wondering. Why was it ok to cheer and celebrate the death of this man. And then I remembered, he hurt our nation. He took thousands of lives in one short day. 
     God's word puts a different spin on everything. Jesus would not think it was ok to be so happy about this mans death. In fact, I think heaven was saddened by the loss of a soul. No where in the Bible does it say one sin is greater then another. Take Galations 5:19-21 for example, Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. What about Isaiah 59:2, but your iniquities have made a separation between you and your God, and your sins have hidden his face from you so that he does not hear. Sin is sin, no matter what kind of sin it is. When I have jealousy or become angry the Bible says that I am NO better then Osama bin Ladan. We are both sinners who are condemned to hell without the saving grace of Jesus. Praise the name of the Lord for being my Savior and my God! 
     The Bible makes it clear to me that its wrong to celebrate the death of this man. In Matthew 5:44-45 Jesus says, But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father who is 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.  Ezekiel 33:11 says, Say to them, As I live, declares the Lord GOD, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but that the wicked turn from his way and live; turn back, turn back from your evil ways, for why will you die, O house of Israel? 
     Christians today is not a victory, today is a loss. The loss of a soul who needed Jesus. We need to get up and share Jesus with the world, because even the worst among us still needs a savior, and God's grace can still cover them. Don't rejoice in this death. Use it as a way to share Christ with those your are around today.