Do not rejoice when your enemy falls, and let not your heart be glad when he stumbles, lest the LORD see it and be displeased, and turn away his anger from him.
Proverbs 24:17–18, ESV
We should never celebrate the suffering or death of another as a people of God. Sadly, I have seen displays of celebration at the death of evil leaders and, personally, have been disturbed by it. I was truly not sad when I heard of his passing. In fact, there was some relief in my spirit. What troubled me was the celebration. As a follower of Christ, I do not desire that any should die outside of Christ and pray that all would repent. I do not believe that all will come to know Jesus or believe, but I don’t desire nor do I think that any deserve the eternal suffering of Hell any more than I do. For those of us who believe in Christ, we are redeemed sinners that are spared the punishment that we deserve because of what Christ did on the Cross for us and all humanity. Yet, we know not all will believe, and therefore not all will be saved. This is the most troubling to some, and many will say that Christians are judgmental because we believe that there are many who will go to Hell, but we should never wish them there. If our hearts do wish that, it would be good to ponder for a minute the name of the one whom you are cursing and place your name in that space and see if your perspective changes because that may be the case for each of us in the heart of another. We don’t speak of the dangers of Hell to condemn another, but as a warning of the place we all deserve, if not for Christ. The oppression and suffering of another is not something with which we should find joy, but for those who reject and hate God, there is much worse that awaits them in eternity, and for that, we are to pray that their hearts change and they will live differently in this life with Christ in their hearts.
Let us pray. I thank you, my heavenly Father, through Jesus Christ, your dear Son, that you have kept me this night from all harm and danger, and I ask you to protect me this day also from sin and every evil, that in all I do today, I may please you. For into your hands, I commend myself, my body and soul, and all that is mine. Let your holy angel watch over me, that the wicked foe have no power over me. Amen.