3 Jan, 2007

Justice for Saddam

Saddam Hussein will face another judgment day.

Saddam Hussein dies on the gallows

Baghdad — Saddam Hussein struggled briefly after American military guards handed him over to Iraqi executioners. But as his final moments approached, he grew calm.

He clutched a Quran as he was led to the gallows, and in one final moment of defiance, refused to have a hood pulled over his head before facing the same fate he was accused of inflicting on countless thousands during a quarter-century of ruthless power.

A man whose testimony helped lead to Mr. Hussein's conviction and execution before sunrise said he was shown the body because "everybody wanted to make sure that he was really executed."

"Now, he is in the garbage of history," said Jawad Abdul-Aziz, who lost his father, three brothers and 22 cousins in the reprisal killings that followed a botched 1982 assassination attempt against Saddam in the Shiite town of Dujail.

U.S. President George W. Bush said in a statement issued from his ranch in Texas that bringing Mr. Hussein to justice "is an important milestone on Iraq's course to becoming a democracy that can govern, sustain and defend itself, and be an ally in the war on terror."

But people in the Sunni-dominated city of Tikrit, once a power base of Mr. Hussein, lamented his death.

"The president, the leader Saddam Hussein is a martyr and God will put him along with other martyrs. Do not be sad nor complain because he has died the death of a holy warrior," said Sheik Yahya al-Attawi, a cleric at the Saddam Big Mosque.

picture & story courtesy globeandmail.com, 12/30/06

1 John 4:15-17

15 Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God. 16 So we have come to know and to believe the love that God has for us. God is love, and whoever abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him. 17 By this is love perfected with us, so that we may have confidence for the day of judgment, because as he is so also are we in this world.

Ezekiel 33:11

11 Say to them, As I live, declares the Lord God, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but that the wicked turn from his way and live; turn back, turn back from your evil ways, for why will you die, O house of Israel? (ESV)

What does today's God's Story scripture mean when it uses the words, "day of judgment"?

Here's the answer from the notes in Tyndale's LIFE APPLICATION STUDY BIBLE:

4:17 The day of judgment is that time when all people will appear before Christ and be held accountable for their actions. With God living in us through Christ, we have no reason to fear this day because we have been saved from punishment. Instead, we can look forward to the day of judgment because it will mean the end of sin and the beginning of a face-to-face relationship with Jesus Christ.

No matter how anyone feels about the execution of Saddam Hussein, the truth is that he will now face Christ's judgment. Saddam's false god "Allah" can not save anyone.

Saddam is already experiencing the beginning of his eternal separation from God. But if you carefully read the verse from Ezekiel, you know that God is so loving, He takes no pleasure in Hussein choosing Hell rather than Christ.

Are you ready for that day of judgment? Are you spreading the Good News so that others will be ready?

How can we connect today's God's Story scripture to our lives?

  • If you know Christ as your Savior, thank God that you don't have to fear the day of judgment. Praise Him for your salvation in Christ, who took your judgment for sin when He died on the cross for you.

    If you do not know Christ as your Savior, admit to God that your sin keeps you from Him. Receive God's forgiveness at this very moment by trusting Jesus Christ to forgive you and take over your life. Thank Him for giving you a relationship with God that will carry you through the day of judgment into an eternal home in Heaven!

  • If you prayed to receive Christ as your Savior, your story has now been connected to God's eternal story. Email us at 3Story.org, so that we can send you some materials to help you grow in your faith in Jesus.

  • Whenever you hear the word "judgment", let it remind you that you have nothing to fear according to the words of John in today's scripture. Let Jesus empower you to abide in His love every day.

How can we connect today's story, God's Story and our story to others?

  • Whenever you see ongoing reports about Saddam Hussein's execution, let God remind you to pray for one person you believe is not ready for the day of judgment. Ask Jesus to give you the opportunity to share your story and God's Story with him or her.
  • As you have conversations with others about Saddam's execution and how it affects world events, ask Jesus if the time is right to talk about future events after death. Depend on Jesus to help you communicate His love as you share your story of faith and why you do not fear death or the day of judgment.
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God's Story is brought to you by Youth for Christ. YFC works with young people on campus and in the community in over one hundred countries around the world so that they might have an opportunity to become a follower of Christ and be a part of a local church.

Our writer, Byron Emmert, has been with YFC for over 30 years and has served as Campus Life Staff, in leadership for DCLA, and as an author and speaker. Byron is available for speaking at youth or adult events and conferences. For booking, write to byron@3Story.org.

Byron and his wife Linda live in Minnesota and their family includes two married sons and daughters-in-law, a grandaughter, and a daughter in college. He loves sports, deep dish pizza, and spending time with his family.