Peter Ramsay posted on October 25, 2005 00:00 1241 views
Does it make sense to you that someone claims they were sowing seeds of terror but resent being called a terrorist?
London,
England, still reeling from the deadly subway bombings in early July,
was spared another deadly attack on their transit system when bombs
failed to fully explode. The July 21st would-be bombers were wearing
backpacks carrying explosives. Closed circuit television captured
pictures of 27 year old Osman Hussain in the Westbourne Park subway
station with the back pack. Investigators believe he was planning to
blow up a train near the Shepherd’s Bush station in West London. But
the bombs failed to fully detonate.
Scotland Yard intercepted at
that location a cell phone call, made on a phone owned by someone in
Rome. The Italian police were notified. The location of that cellphone
was monitored. The phone was in London for a few days after the failed
bombing; then it moved to Paris. According to Italian authorities, the
phone then moved to Milan, next to Bologna and then finally to
Hussain’s brother’s apartment in Rome. (1)
Italian Police went
to the apartment and arrested Hussain with his cellphone. Apparently
Hussain was calm and coherent when he was interrogated by police. His
court-appointed lawyer said her client does not consider himself a
terrorist. He said: “We didn’t want to kill, just sow terror.” (2)
I
think it would be hard to convince Londoners that someone carry a
backpack with explosives that failed to properly detonate, was not in
fact a terrorist – just someone wanting to sow terror. How many seeds
of terror would one have to sow before being labeled a terrorist? Most
of us would conclude that Osman Hussain is splitting hairs and trying
to make a fine distinction between the act and the desire. Even if we
could intellectually agree with his reasoning, I think we would be
dreadfully worried if we saw him boarding our subway in the future with
a backpack strapped to his shoulders.
As ridiculous as his
reasoning may seem to us, there is something very similar that is all
too common yet people every day rationalize it in their minds. “Sure, I
sow a few sins here and there – but I resent the fact the Bible labels
me a sinner.” I have talked to so many people who readily confess to
occasional sins but totally reject the fact that they are sinners!
Why
do terrorists strap bombs to their backs that later explode and kill
people and often kill themselves? Because first of all they are
terrorists in their hearts. Those thoughts and that mindset, lead
people to build their explosives and eventually act out what is within
their heart.
Why do people sin? Because they are sinners. You
don’t have to go out there and commit more sins before you become an
official sinner. No, the Bible plainly says that we do the things we do
because of what we are. How many apples does a tree have to produce
before it is classified an apple tree?
People who are fairly
confident they live a reasonably good life do not think they need
Christ to save them. The reality is Christ died for what we are and
what we have done. 1 Timothy 1:15 says: This is a trustworthy statement
and worthy to be accepted by all, that “Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners.”
Just
recently a lady and her husband stopped at a Bible display at an
Exhibition. One of the many Bible verses on display was: “Christ Jesus
came into the world to save sinners.” The moment her eyes spotted that
verse, she said loud enough for several of us to hear: “That’s what I
need!” We asked: “Why would you say that?” Her simple response was:
“Because that’s what I am.”
Have you ever acknowledged to God
that you are not just someone who has sowed a few sins, but that you
are in fact a sinner. Agreeing with God that you are a sinner is called
repentance. Have you ever repented? God is waiting for you to agree
with Him. Jesus said: “Except you repent you shall perish.” Luke 13:3
Without repentance, you will never be in God’s Heaven.
(1) http://www.guardian.co.uk/worldlatest/story/0,1280,-5176789,00.html
(2) The Chronicle Herald, July 31, 2005, London Bombing Suspect Says Attacks Were not Intended to Kill, AP, p. A8