She Defied the Living

She Defied the Living

Dear Editor:

Jezebel, wife of Ahab, king of Israel, defied the living God, made war on his religion and teachers. She had power, wealth, recognition and a large following. But the God whom she defied called her to account for her blasphemies and crimes and she died violently at the hands of her own servants (II Kings 9:30-35). Her name has ever since been infamous.

In our day, Madelyn Murray O'Hair defied the living God. She blasphemed his holy name, she worked unceasingly to drive his name out of our nation's public life. She reveled in her success, her recognition and power. She grew wealthy from her efforts.

She never thought she would be called to account by the God she despised and opposed. This week investigators discovered the remains of O'Hair and her children. They were murdered by a band of criminals led by one of her employees.

All of those years that Ms. O'Hair railed against God and his church, she was daring the moral governor of the universe to do something about it. He did! As she sowed, she has now reaped (Galatians 6:7). She despised and rejected God's Son whom God likened to a great foundation stone. She refused to acknowledge him and has now been ground to dust (Luke 20:17-18).

It is a shame when anyone dies violently... even a God-hating atheist like Ms. O'Hair. But on the other hand, we must remember that our God is not just a lifeless name in an old book. He is the living God (Psalms 42:2). He is the God of justice (Isaiah 45:21). He is all powerful (Genesis 17:1). He knows all...including the blasphemies of his enemies (Hebrews 4:13). He rewards the righteous who obey him and punishes the wicked who defy him (II Corinthians 5:10).

No wonder then that Moses warned Israel, "Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain; for Jehovah will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain" (Exodus 20:7).

Perhaps Ms. O'Hair's untimely end will serve as a warning to others of her philosophical stripe who take pleasure in defying Jehovah and the Cause of his beloved Son.

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