Lessons from the Death of Osama Bin Laden

Introduction.  Like many of you, last Sunday night, after I got home from the young people’s Bible study I learned about the dramatic events that led to the death of the most notorious terrorist in US history.  While we should never feel joy over the fact that a soul made in the image of God has died as a consequence of his wickedness, there was a strong feeling that justice had been done.

            Throughout the week I found myself fascinated with this event and the life of this man that captivated so much attention and fervor for the past two decades. It is not our purpose as Christians to focus on political and social dynamics or world events, but there are clearly a number of things about the rise and fall of this wicked man which can teach us some valuable lessons.

I. Zeal does not define truth.

A.  Osama Bin Laden was a religious man  (2 Timothy 3:1-5).

1. He was zealous for his faith (Rom. 10:1-3).

B.  Paul was also zealous (Galatians 1:13-17).

1. But, Paul was wrong. He allowed this zeal to lead him to persecute the church. “Concerning zeal, persecuting the church” (Phil. 3:6). He did that, totally convinced he was doing right. He told the Jews “I have lived in all good conscience before God to this day” (Acts 23:1).
2. We must be zealous for the right things (Titus 2:11-14).  Paul told the Galatians “it is good to be zealous in a good thing always” (Galatians 4:18).

II. The dangerous power of error.

A. Osama Bin Laden followed the error begun by one man 1400 years ago.

1. This man (Muhammad) believed in God, Moses, the Bible and even Jesus.
2. But he taught a different way to salvation.
3. This error has deceived millions! This is why we must be vigilant to oppose and expose error.

B. You can’t accept Jesus but reject what He taught (Deut. 18:15-18; Matt. 17:1-5; John 14:6).  

III. The human capacity for evil.

A.    As a result of his influence 1000s have died (9/11 - 3000; 17 – USS Cole; US Embassies – 100s; Afghan War – 2400 coalition; etc.).

1.      He told his followers concerning Americans, “Allah knows that their blood is permitted (to be spilled) and their wealth is a booty; their wealth is a booty to those who kill them…”

2.      “The most Exalted said in the verse of As-Sayef, The Sword: ‘so when the sacred months have passed away, then slay the idolaters where ever you find them, and take them captives and besiege them and lie in wait for them in every ambush’ (At-Tauba; 9:5)…”

3.       “Those youths know that their rewards in fighting you, the USA, is double than their rewards in fighting some one else not from the people of the book. They have no intention except to enter paradise by killing you.” From 1996 Fatwa issued by Osama Bin Laden.

B.     This is an evil world in which we live (2 Timothy 3:13-15).

1.      We must trust the One who has overcome this world (John 16:33).

IV. The pressing need to convert the lost.

A.    What if such influence and zeal had been devoted to truth?

1. What good might have been done?
2. How might the influence of one man brought men to truth?

B.      As Christians we can’t underestimate our individual influence (Matt. 5:13-17).

1. Paul was one man that taught the Gentile world.

V.  Our deeds will catch-up with us.

A.  For 10 years Osama Bin Laden remained hidden.

1. He was an outlaw long before that, hiding and running from his deeds.
2. He may have thought he was safely hidden (Psalm  139:7-12).

B.      All our deeds are open to God (Heb. 4:12-13).

1. One day sin will catch up with us (Num. 32:23).

VI.  The danger of presuming you have time.

A.    What a chilling experience this must have been for this man! Awakened to Navy Seals.

1. The day before this was just like any other day.
2. Within 24 hours he was dead, at the bottom of the sea, and accountable before God!

B.     One day an event will overtake us that is no less chilling (Matt. 24:43-44; 2 Pet. 3:10-12).