Sunday evening Missy and got home around 9:00pm. I noticed that the Phillies and the Mets were tied at 1 late in the game, so I thought that would be an exciting thing to watch to wind down and get ready for sleep. Shortly after tuning the game in I heard a faint chant of “USA! USA! USA!” coming from the crowd. I thought it strange but continued watching the game. The play by play announcer said, “That was not very big, but the news will spread by word of mouth and the next time the chant starts it will really catch on.” He was correct. The chant “USA! USA! USA!”began to vibrantly ring out. One of the cameras zoomed in on the jumbotron which showed a screen shot from website that read “bin Laden Killed by American Forces.” I immediately changed the channel from ESPN to Fox News. I began flipping back and forth from Fox News to CNN in order to hear both viewpoints. As I listened, I found myself having a surprising reaction. Patriotism and pride began to well up in me. I was excited about what had happened. I couldn’t wait to hear the leader of our country speak to this issue. I waited anxiously to hear his speech. I normally can’t even listen to him, but that night I couldn’t wait. Then it hit me. Should I be rejoicing at the death of a man—especially the death of a lost man? I was reminded of what the Lord God said in Ezekiel 33 , “Tell them: As I live”—the declaration of the Lord GOD—“I take no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but rather that the wicked person should turn from his way and live.” So why all the celebration? Why all the partying? The next morning I received a call from the City of Lufkin asking me to open a “Pride in America” celebration in prayer. I gladly accepted. In addition to praying, I wanted to explain the reason for our celebration.

What we celebrate is the diligence of the United States in the pursuit of justice. I think it is important that we understand that we are not celebrating the death of a man…we would never celebrate anyone who dies without Jesus in his life. Proverbs (24) tells us, “¹⁷ Don’t gloat when your enemy falls, and don’t let your heart rejoice when he stumbles, ¹⁸ or the LORD will see, be displeased…” But rather we celebrate the effectiveness of our intelligence gathering; the precision of our military; and the disabling of the head of a terrorist organization.

In addition to celebrating, we should fall on our knees and pray for an opportunity to share Jesus with those who will be shaken by this news; to pray for those who are put on heightened alert by this news; to pray for wisdom for those who are still pursuing justice; and to pray for the protection of those who are protecting us and the freedom we enjoy in these United States. I encourage you to pause now and do just that. Let us seek the face of God Almighty as we celebrate living in this great country known as the USA!

We are not celebrating the death of a man; we are celebrating the diligence of the United States in the pursuit of justice. Thank God for the USA. God bless America!