“The Most Expensive Public Enemy”

That’s what a political newspaper called Osama bin Laden whom an elite US commando forces killed early this week in Pakistan (Source: http://www.nationaljournal.com/). Just exactly how much did he cost the US of A?“By conservative estimates, bin Laden cost the United States at least $3 trillion over the past 15 years, counting the disruptions he wrought on the domestic economy, the wars and heightened security triggered by the terrorist attacks he engineered, and the direct efforts to hunt him down.” (Ibid) Analysts are debating whether it’s worth the tab. Linda Bilmes, a lecturer at John F. Kennedy School of Government of Harvard University lamented the expenses incurred in developing the unmanned aircraft, the Predator drones, for the counter-bin Laden efforts. “We have spent a huge amount of money which has not had much effect on the strengthening of our military, and has had a very weak impact on our economy.” (Ibid) But Michael O’Hanlon, a National Security analyst at the Brookings Institution, believed that the fight against bin Laden and Al Qaeda prevented another much costly attack on American soil. “We proved that we value our security enough to incur some pretty substantial economic costs en route to protecting it.” (Ibid)

Yet, there is actually a much more expensive enemy than bin Laden, spiritually speaking that is. Romans 5:8-10 tells us, “But God showed how much he loved us by having Christ die for us, even though we were sinful. But there is more! Now that God has accepted us because Christ sacrificed his life’s blood, we will also be kept safe from God’s anger. Even when we were God’s enemies, he made peace with us, because his Son died for us. Yet something even greater than friendship is ours. Now that we are at peace with God, we will be saved by his Son’s life.” (CEV) On our own we cannot save ourselves. “You cannot buy back your life or pay off God! It costs far too much to buy back your life. You can never pay God enough to stay alive forever and safe from death.” (Psalm 49:7-9) We are the most expensive enemy because it cost God His only Son to save us. His motive was not to eliminate an enemy at all cost. But He loves us so much that the high eternal price tag did not keep Him from sending our Lord Jesus Christ to die on the cross for our sins. “By faith we have been made acceptable to God. And now, because of our Lord Jesus Christ, we live at peace with God.” (Romans 5:1)

Brethren, Christ’s death ought to make us eternally grateful.