A Body Is Gone But A Threat Remains?

Yes, Osama bin Laden is history! But now he is just an ugly past-tense aspect of it destined for the history books. However, the question thatnow springs up immediately is, what comes next? Rep. Peter King, chairman of the House Homeland Security Committee, told Fox News, "They want to avenge this." And anyone who knows anything about radical Islam knows that his assessment will likely be exactly right!

Of course there is joy and a sense of justice finally being achieved relating to America’s public enemy number one for a decade. But his physical absence does not at all mean the absence of terrorist danger in America, Israel, and other select targets around the globe. If anything, this may strongly rekindle the hatred and reality of even more heinous acts of cowardice and brutality against innocent and unsuspecting citizens. Only time will tell who replaces this gruesome figure and what kind of plans he will devise to make his own name in the sick, twisted, and demonic world of terrorism.

Knowing this, the U.S. government, military, and other law officials in America are on extreme high alert, even though this will not be outwardly seen on the surface by the average person. Also, as with any potential threat, some will take it quite seriously and some will not give it a second thought, just assuming all is fine and that their odds of any real harm is minimal if not even non-existent.

Unfortunately, this identical attitude is found all too often in the spiritual realm as well. Here, the very real threat of an eternal catastrophe comes with a clear and constant warning given by the highest authority in the universe – the Creator God Himself. This particular threat has been at the highest level possible ever since the first man and woman walked the earth. Tragically, they missed God’s clear and major warning. Sin was born into the entire human race and people like bin Laden would come into existence from that moment to this very day. (Genesis 3)

The Bible clearly and repeatedly outlines the threat and consequences of human sin.(Romans 1:18, 6:23, 5:12) Nothing is kept as top secret. Everyone who can read or listen has the opportunity of grasping the clear warning of the real threat of an eternity in hell after death. But they also have readily available in Scripture the way to avoid this unthinkable end through a heart-changing experience of faith with Jesus Christ. (Acts 16:30, John 3:16)

Most people generally fear going through the painful end of their physical life, even though few will go out in such a dramatic and public fashion as did Mr. bin Laden. But what should be given their utmost attention is the ultimate and main matter spoken of by Jesus Himself in Luke 12:4-5. In His short discourse touching on fearing God at life’s end, the Savior stated these sobering words of truth surrounding life and death’s highest possible alert and fear. "And I say to you, My friends, do not be afraid of those who kill the body, and after that have no more that they can do. But I will show you whom you should fear: Fear Him who, after He has killed, has power to cast into hell; yes, I say to you, fear Him!”

To a growing segment of humanity, even some today in so-called Christian circles, there is a belief that there are numerous ways that will eventually get most or maybe all to a final, peaceful, and glorious resting place in heaven. But this flies directly in the face of all solid and obvious biblical teaching. For example, 1 Timothy 2:5 reveals "For there is one God and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus, who gave Himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time.” Check out similar passages such as John 14:6 as well. This doctrine of salvation is not at all fuzzy, convoluted, or up for debate. The Savior, who died in our place, would not hide or confuse the way for His fallen race to take advantage of His great sacrifice!

Bin Laden made his choice, both through his grievous actions in life, and his decision of where to place his trust for his eternal destiny. He is now entrenched there forever. From this writer’s view and beliefs, he chose poorly – very poorly on both counts. For he has taken a list of unspeakable sins into the next life without having the only thing that would have gotten him eternally ‘off the hook’ so to speak, as identified in 1 John 2:1-2.

“My little children, these things I write to you, so that you may notsin. And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, JesusChrist the righteous. And He Himself is the propitiation for our sins,and not for ours only but also for the whole world.”

Even if terrorism is stepped up significantly in the aftermath of the emoval of this infamous terrorist leader, the odds of any one person being harmed or killed by a terrorist act remains quite small. But the odds for the event spelled out in Hebrews 9:27-28 are no less than 100% and thereby require a total spiritual readiness to the eventual threatand reality for every man and woman ever born.

“And as it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment, so Christ was offered once to bear the sins of many.”

Bill Breckenridge