Celebrating The Destruction Of The Wicked

May 3

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Monday morning I was greeted by the news. Every radio station I tuned in to, every news report I read, every person I spoke to seemed to be bursting at the seams with the news that Osama Bin-Ladin had been found and had been killed.

“USA!! USA!! USA!! USA!! USA!!” … The chants seemed to echo in every corner of the country. The enemy has been destroyed. After 10 years of playing hide-and-seek, justice has been served. The world celebrates.

But, how should Christians react to this news? Honestly, there’s a conflict in my mind as to how I should respond. On one hand, it is wonderful that this man has been stopped, and that no more innocent lives will be taken by his hand. But, I find it hard to celebrate. It hurts to know that another soul has dropped into hell, eternally separated from God.

I mean, does he deserve hell? Yes, of course!! But guess what…so do we!

What does the Bible say? Honestly you can find scripture for both sides of the matter.

Don’t Celebrate!

“Have I any pleasure at all that the wicked should die? saith the Lord GOD: and not that he should return from his ways, and live?” Ezekiel 18:23

“Rejoice not when thine enemy falleth, and let not thine heart be glad when he stumbleth:” Proverbs 24:17

“Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy. But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you; That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust. For if ye love them which love you, what reward have ye? do not even the publicans the same?” Matthew 5:43-46

Celebrate!

“When it goeth well with the righteous, the city rejoiceth: and when the wicked perish, there is shouting.” Proverbs 11:10

“The righteous shall rejoice when he seeth the vengeance: he shall wash his feet in the blood of the wicked.” Psalm 58:10

“And all the people of the land rejoiced, and the city was in quiet: and they slew Athaliah with the sword beside the king’s house.” 2 Kings 11:20 (after an enemy of Israel was brought to justice)

“Rejoice, O ye nations, with his people: for he will avenge the blood of his servants, and will render vengeance to his adversaries, and will be merciful unto his land, and to his people.” Deuteronomy 32:43

Conclusion…

As God’s people, we are to realize several major things:

1. We all deserve God’s wrath and judgement. You’re a sinner just as much as Mr. Bin-Ladin was. You deserve hell. So do I. Even if we only offend in one point of the law, we are guilty of it all.

2. Justice will always be carried out. Whether here or in eternity, each sin must be accounted for before a perfect and Holy God. We know that God is good and will always do right.

3. Christ is our only hope. He paid the price for our sins. We were reconciled freely back to God through the righteousness of Christ himself. The only way I escape the judgement of God is because it was already poured out on Jesus on my behalf!

4. God is not willing that any should perish. Though each human must one day be judged, God’s desire is that they be reconciled, forgiven, justified and pardoned.

So, in all the celebration, we can rest assured that justice has been carried out. This justice is good and was deserved. But let us also mourn that another creature of God has perished. My hope is that Osama Bin-Ladin accepted Christ in his last moments of life, but we will never know that until we reach eternity. Enemies of God will be judged. But God desires for those same enemies to become his children by accepting the pardon of Christ. Will you pray with me that more enemies of the cross be reconciled by the cross?

“And how shall they hear without a preacher?”

Posted in News, Personal Study, Random Thoughts

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Colombia Rainy Season Death Toll at 93

Apr 23

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Please be praying for Colombia, as the rainy season is just starting up again. In the past couple weeks thousands of people have been affected and many have dropped into eternity. We must reach them as quickly as we can! Will you pray for more laborers for Colombia?

Here is a news story on the flooding:

Colombia news - Cali floods

Ninety three Colombians have died and 12 are missing because of floods and landslides caused by this year’s first rainy season, said the Rad Cross Friday.The latest victims are two children who were buried under a landslide just north of Medellin.

According to the aid agency, the extreme weather has left 52 injured and has damaged the homes or lands of more than 130,000 Colombians.

24 of the country’s 32 departments have dealt with emergency situations following the torrential rains that began in February, only weeks after the disastrous rainy season of last year that killed more than 300 and left more than $5 billion in damages to private properties and infrastructure.

According to meteorologists, the extreme rains are the result of weather phenomenon La Niña, which also caused last year’s extreme rainy season. The meteorologists estimate warn that the worst of the rainy season is yet to come and may last until June.

The Red Cross expressed its concern about the water levels of the Magdalena river, which is the country’s largest rivers and goes from the south of the country to the Caribbean sea. Regions around other rivers are on high flood alert after torrential rains caused great parts of the cities Bogota and Cali to flood and are threatening to flood even larger areas particularly in the north where the Magdalena meets with the Cauca river.

Santos has already announced that the extreme rainfall has exhausted the capabilities of the State.

Posted in Colombia

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Jesus Paid It All

Apr 22

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“It pleased the LORD to bruise him; he hath put him to grief: when thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin, he shall see his seed, he shall prolong his days, and the pleasure of the LORD shall prosper in his hand. He shall see of the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied: by his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many; for he shall bear their iniquities. Therefore will I divide him a portion with the great, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong; because he hath poured out his soul unto death: and he was numbered with the transgressors; and he bare the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors.”

Isaiah 53:10-12


It pleased God to bruise the Son.

Have you ever thought about that? I mean, really, have you spent time pondering the truth of what Jesus did for us?

Today, millions of people around the world recognize “Good Friday,” the day we celebrate the death of Christ on the cross. What is “good” about it?

Christ’s body was bruised, beaten and battered.

His flesh was whipped, bloodied and torn.

His side was pierced.

His deity was mocked.

He was cursed.

Spat upon.

Rejected.

Good? How is this good?

It is good because he did it for me.

It should have been me there. My sins deserved the full blow of God’s wrath. As the book of Nahum says, his fury is reserved for his enemies, and being an enemy of God, dead in my sins, I deserved that.

But God is good. He cannot let sin go unpunished. He can’t just pretend it didn’t happen. If so, he wouldn’t be just. No, instead, he came himself. He paid my price.

He paid it all.

Jesus paid it all!!

He has now made me clean! Accepted! Saved! Forgiven! Justified! Redeemed! Regenerated! Blessed beyond all measure, born again, blood bought and free. I’m his and he is mine. He has paid it all! He paid my debt! Glory to God!

That is why we celebrate Good Friday. Because, God, in his Goodness, paid it all. But guess what… Sunday, it gets better!

Have you thanked God today for what he’s done for you?

Posted in Personal Study, Praises, Random Thoughts

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Thanks For Visiting Our Website!


Hey There!

Thanks for visiting BeMagnified.org!

We are the Vance family, church planting missionaries to Colombia, South America withMacedonia World Baptist Missions. We are sent out of Lighthouse Baptist Church in Dawsonville, Georgia.

We are confident that God is going to do great things in South America and around the world. Christ gave a commission to us, His church, to carry the gospel to the uttermost parts of the earth and it is an honor to serve HIM! Our life and ministry theme is found in Philippians 1:20-21:

“According to my earnest expectation and my hope, that in nothing I shall be ashamed, but that with all boldness, as always, so now also Christ shall be magnified in my body, whether it be by life, or by death. For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.”

We are currently raising our financial support. If you have any questions or want us to present our ministry in your church, please don’t hesitate to contact me here or call me at: 678-696-0082.

Feel free to look around our site, subscribe to our blog, comment and share with your friends. God bless, and may Christ be magnified in you!

-Aaron, Aubrie, Amira & Anabel Vance-

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The Most Amazing Woman…Is Mine!

Apr 18

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Aubrie, I love you. It’s hard to believe two whole years have gone by since we were married that gorgeous day up in Ashland, Ohio. The past two years have been phenomenal, yet it seems like we’ve always been together. I actually can’t imagine my life without you. It’s like we’ve always been one.

You’ve changed my life. Literally. I’m a different person because of you. You encourage me, help me, support me, respect me, and melt my heart with each loving gaze you throw my way with those big brown eyes of yours. I know I sure don’t deserve you but thank God he saw it fit to put us together. And he’s the one that will keep us together!

It has been such an honor getting to know you more each day, enjoying your company, serving alongside of you and seeing you grow into the godly woman you are. You really are the most amazing person I know. You fascinate me. I see how you respond to situations that aren’t ideal, love the unloveable, forgive, express patience, and give of yourself, and it really baffles me. You really do show Jesus to those around you. I have learned from you.

Wow, and talk about a good mother. Amira is so blessed to have you as a mom. You do such a great job loving her and giving her all the little things she needs. I know life get pretty hectic at times, especially with us on the road a lot, but you take it all in stride, and glorify God in it all. How do you do it? Amazing. I hope our daughter turns out like you!

And, of course, you’re my best friend. There’s nobody I’d rather live with and spend time with. I know I can be myself with you and that you’ll still love me. Now that sure takes somebody special!! 🙂  All joking aside, I honestly never knew how much of a friend my wife would be. I had prayed for you for years before I even saw your face, but I had no idea that your face would mean so much to me. That your company would light up my day. That your words would brighten my soul. We’ve shared many laughs, tears and shining moments. And Lord willing, there will be much more to come!

So, now, on our Second anniversary, allow me to say, I love you. I loved you on our wedding day, and I love you more now. If God gives us the time, I will love you for years and years and years to come. I honestly believe we’re together for God’s namesake and his glory. He put us together and we will live for him!! Here’s the song I wrote for us on our wedding day. It still stands true today  🙂

For His Name

For many years I prayed to God That he would give to me

A girl who loves him with all her heart And serves him faithfully.

And although at times I was dismayed Thinking you weren’t there,

Now I’ve seen God’s glorious strength portrayed,

Our two lives—one to share…

________

For His Name, For His Fame, For His glory we’re together.

We’re made one by the Son, And through his love.

And wherever God leads us That’s where we’ll go;

So that all the world that see us, They will know…

We’re together for His name.

 ________

As we start this journey new, Following Christ’s lead,

There are some things I promise To you faithfully;

To love you, to lead you, To be your best friend,

To live my life with integrity, Stay with you ‘til the end…

________

For His Name, For His Fame, For His glory we’re together.

We’re made one by the Son, And through his love.

And wherever God leads us That’s where we’ll go;

So that all the world that see us, They will know…

We’re together for His name.

________

So let come what may, I’m here to stay,

Forever I’ll be true.

On every mountain, every valley, I’m staying with you.

As a living testimony of Christ’s love and devotion,

I’ll give my all, follow his call

Because, I love you…

________

For His Name, For His Fame, For His glory we’re together.

We’re made one by the Son, And through his love.

And wherever God leads us That’s where we’ll go;

So that all the world that see us, They will know…

We’re together for His name.

We’re together for His name.

Posted in Family, Praises, Random Thoughts

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