Good morning on this Saturday, May 14th. "Osama bin Laden is dead," read the headline after 40 Navy SEALS entered Pakistan, swooped into the bin Laden compound in four stealth helicopters, and killed the terrorist in his own bedroom. Many people took to the streets in joyous celebration that nearly 10 years after the 9/11 attacks, we had finally tracked bin Laden down and killed him. As I watched the jubilant celebrations, I was reminded of a verse in Proverbs 24:17," Rejoice not when your enemy falls, and let not your heart be glad when he stumbles." Job 31:29 and Obadiah 1:12 provide similar instruction. The elimination of this terrorist and the threat that he personally posed is not at issue. Undoubtedly, nearly every American is relieved that he is gone and pleased that at long last we got him, but the dancing in the streets, ebullient celebration is premature because: (1) there is considerable evidence that al-Qaeda has other leaders who are stepping into the vacuum and are determined to carry on the jihad against the U.S.A., (2) already threatened reprisals have begun with attacks on human targets as revenge against bin Laden's killing, (3) Many other terrorist groups have vowed to step up attacks against us in retaliation for our killing of bin Laden, (4) it would be a grave mistake to think that we have eliminated the nightmare of threats and attacks from radical groups wishing our demise. Some have described the killing of bin Laden as the cutting off of the head of a snake, but the problem is that there are many other snakes all too ready to strike with their deadly venom.
Tomorrow's sermon is entitled, The Great Future Battles In Prophecy. It is a message you will not want to miss.
Mel Brown