Is Revenge sweet? Is Justice for us to decide?

These are questions that have been flooding my thoughts this morning as I hear over and over again, Osama Bin Laden is dead. I can honestly say, I’m not excited. Maybe relieved, but not happy or excited.

I’m not going to play politics, or believe to even comprehend all the worldwide issues, but I’m not celebrating the death of a human being today. Today, I’m thinking of how lives have been changed from this one man leading his whole regime in a thought process of evil.

I’m saddened for all the innocent civilians that have fallen to Osama’s during his regime. I’m saddened for the people affected by the bombing of the USS Cole. I’m saddened for the people affected by the 9-11 tragedy. I’m saddened for all the loss of life of our soldiers since 9-11. I’m saddened for not only all the deaths, but the injuries and live altering losses of soldiers and of civilians. Many lives lost, changed forever, for nothing more than power and money.

I was just reminded on the radio to remember that just because one evil person is gone does not mean that evil is. There will be others that step up. Hopefully we as a world, as a nation are better prepared for such evil, but it is still in our midst. We just celebrated Easter, and we need to remember that only one death truly affects us all for eternity, and that was the death of Christ on the cross. Jesus died for all.

Revenge to me isn’t sweet. Revenge is an emotion that can eat you up on the inside. Don’t get me wrong, I believe in consequences and response to actions. I support our troops and what they are going through, but revenge doesn’t change, doesn’t end the evil in the world.

It’s a fine line, but don’t forget the words of Jesus when he told us to forgive 70x7 times, he is the judge of all, the Lord of all. There is legal justice in our world, but we will all be held accountable to a “bigger” judge in the end.

My prayer today is for the people of the world. Hopefully there won’t be retaliation for the death of Osama; it seems like revenge just sets off a whole domino effect on human beings. I pray for the continued safety of our troops and the innocent people of the world. Osama masterminded a horrible thing. But let us not just get caught up in the violence and the celebration of someone dying; let us continue to pray for peace in our world and in our hearts.