Monthly Archives: May 2011

A Greater Victory

Today at church I witnessed a 3 Star General from Saddam Hussein’s army get baptized. The lead pastor at Trinity has been talking with him about Jesus for a while now. He learned a lot about the General’s past as a soldier under Hussein’s rule. When Saddam ordered his men to kill innocent people, the General wouldn’t obey. He went to prison for his actions. As a devout Muslim he read the Koran and followed it closely. It says (more or less) that to kill innocent people is to anger Allah.

Through their conversations, the General found Jesus to be who he was seeking for and decided to commit his life to Him. His conversion brought up thoughts to me about Osama. When the General came up out of the water, I was one of the first to stand clapping. My emotions caught me off guard, I didn’t realize how compassionate I was to his story. Truly the victory was greater.

I couldn’t help but feel pain at Osama’s fate. It would’ve been an even greater victory to have witnessed that tyrant seek forgiveness for the atrocities he had committed. It would’ve been an even greater victory for him to have submitted to the One who already had holes in his hands and feet for us rather than to receive the one he got in his head.

I fully respect and appreciate the work of the Navy Seals and what they accomplished for the sake of the rest of us still here. But after witnessing the General, I wished it could have been Osama’s story too. I understand that conversion for Osama wouldn’t have saved him from the justice he was due here, and he may still have been killed, I’m simply saying that the victory would have been greater.

Two Villians and a Hero

Earlier this week, I had the honor of celebrating my Grandpa’s life with my family; a life spent in the Word, seeking to glorify God and further His kingdom in this world. It was a very somber yet uplifting time as his sons, my uncles and my Dad, each spoke about his imprint on their lives.

It was also earlier this week that I heard news of Osama bin Laden’s death. It struck me soundly the difference between these deaths. One a loss to us but gain to him, the other a gain to us but loss to him. On the one hand, a man who sought to serve, and on the other a man who sought to slaughter. Both deaths were celebrated, both with tears and cheers but for very different reasons. Both deaths were celebrated with a feeling of fulfillment, both deaths brought news of a bit of peace, but again for very different reasons. One we celebrated as his just reward brought him before the Lord to reside with Him in heaven, the other we celebrated as his just reward brought him to hell.

If you are wondering about the second villain, it was Hitler.  My Grandpa was 30 when Hitler committed suicide, if April 30 1945 is the correct date, and was 95 the year Osama died. Hitler died at age 56, Osama at age 54. Both died ingloriously. If these were the world’s dark book ends to my Grandpa’s life, they only helped to reveal the luminous presence of Christ in him.

I know all three of these men have influence that will stretch far beyond their years here, but I rest in the confidence that the Light will prevail. I am grateful for my Grandpa and the work that the Lord did in his life, the presence of Christ has spread from his life to the rest of us, glory be to God.

Brian