The office of the Director of National Intelligence has released 113 documents seized during the May 2011 raid on Osama bin Laden’s compound in Abbottabad, Pakistan. The al-Queda leader was killed at the time. Osama’s documents included a will, directions on how to handle ransoms, and even a list of grievances about al-Qaeda excesses. While poring over reports about bin Laden’s letters, one particularly caught my eye. It was a missive to his father in which he wrote, “If I am to be killed, pray for me a lot and give continuous charities in my name, as I will be in great need for support to reach the permanent home.”
First, notice how frightened bin Laden was of dying. He thought about it obsessively. He worried about being killed. What hypocrisy. He felt no remorse for murdering 3,000 innocent souls on 9/11. What arrogance to consider that his own life had more value than the fathers, mothers, young people, even children who perished that day. Or the grief-stricken family members left behind. Such is the nature of evil. It is selfish, greedy, and uncaring about the concerns of others.
Second, he wasn’t certain where he’d end up eternally. This merciless killer wanted lots of Islamic prayers for his departed soul. Perhaps his ambivalence was driven by guilt, or maybe just plain hubris. Whatever, bin Laden’s “last will and testament” is a far cry from the words of the apostle Paul who said in 2 Timothy 1:12, “I know whom I have believed and am persuaded that He is able to keep what I have committed to Him until that Day.” Finally, Osama thought good deeds could save his sorry soul after death. What a lie. Hebrews 9:27 teaches that man is destined once to die and after that eternally judged. No act of kindness or charity on bin Laden’s behalf could have changed his eternal state, and that is most assuredly in Hell!
An encouraging word: BEWARE THOSE WHO CONCEIVE EVIL
Psalm 7:14 says something interesting about the wicked individual: “He conceives trouble.” Truly evil people don’t just do wicked things, they actually gestate and give birth to their wickedness. We sometimes give the benefit of the doubt to sinful individuals, by saying, “Oh, he really didn’t mean what he said,” or “I’m sure he didn’t intend to do harm.” Sometimes such observations might be true, but beware the truly devious people who cohabit with the devil to the extent that they actually conceive the trouble which they cause.
Bob Larson has trained healing and deliverance teams all over the world to set the captives free and Do What Jesus Did® (Luke 4:18). You can partner with Bob and support this vision to demonstrate God’s power in action by calling 303-980-1511 or clicking here to donate online.
