Two Baby Boys

One day in 1931 a baby boy was born in Indiana, USA.  Twenty-six years later (1957) a second baby boy was born, this one in Saudi Arabia. Each one was just another baby being birthed into our world like millions of babies are birthed each year. Each one, however, would eventually make a tremendous impact on our world--actually changing our world—but for greatly different reasons. One baby grew to become a man of hate, the other a man of love. One became a man of war, the other a man of peace. One became man who killed, the other a man who brought life.

This week I heard it said, “When you were born you cried and the people rejoiced. Live your life in such a way that when you die, people cry and you rejoice!” It made me think of these two baby boys.

The baby born in 1957 died, or more accurately was killed by our U.S. armed forces, on May 1, 2011. He was none other than Osama Bin Laden, the man whose terror plots led to the deaths of thousands of men and women, including those killed in the attacks on the World Trade Centers. His life was one that was dictated by hatred and anger. He lived his life to destroy the lives of others. His heart and mind were consumed by the terror he sought to inflict on innocent people around the globe. Thus, when he died, with the exception of his handful of followers, most people around the world rejoiced. To him the scripture can be applied, “He passed away, to no one's regret….” (2 Chronicles 21:20 – NIV)

The other baby boy, the one born in 1931, died in a very unfortunate car accident on April 27, 2011. His name was David Wilkerson. Although not as well known around the world as Osama Bin Laden, David Wilkerson was a man who nonetheless made a global impact. The impact of his life, however, was not because of hatred or terror, but because of his love and compassion. Moved in his heart to reach the gang members and drug addicts of New York City, David Wilkerson went to the streets of Brooklyn, NY in February 1958, seeking to rescue young men and women from a lifestyle that was destroying them. Eventually he became the founder of Teen Challenge a world-wide and highly successful rehabilitation program based on the Bible and on the power of God to change people’s lives. For David Wilkerson we can easily apply the scripture, “All Judah and the people of Jerusalem honored him when he died.” (2 Chronicles 32:33 – NIV)

One man will be missed. The other we are relieved to no longer have to deal with here on this earth. One man’s death is reason for tears. The other man’s death became cause for rejoicing in the streets. We will miss David Wilkerson. We will not miss Osama Bin Laden.

Although most of us will never impact our world to the proportions that these two men did, it is good for us to be reminded that each our lives has a lasting effect on the people around us. May we be remembered for the love and life that we brought into the lives of others as we live after the pattern of our Savior who “…did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many." (Matt 20:28 – NIV)

Have a great day!

-Pastor Tim Harris

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