We were all surprised by the sudden attack on Iran by US and Israeli forces on February 28, 2026. That first volley of strikes killed the Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and several Iranian officials. Retaliating attacks by Iran on neighbouring allies with American bases and interests (including an Amazon facility) have likewise killed or injured people at those targets. This war, as all wars, is never satisfied till human lives are lost, despair sets in, and chaos reigns. And as in all wars, it depends on who you talk to – some rejoice that Khamenei is killed and a regime change is possible; others grieve that war is seen as the only answer; still others are angry that enemies have murdered their leaders and persons they revere, and thus vow vengeance. A Persian friend of mine who belonged to the first group said to me when he heard about Khamenei’s death, “It’s strange. This is the first time I’ve felt good about someone dying. I’m not comfortable with myself.”
Those are wise words. God asks the same question, “Do I delight in the death of the wicked?” (Ezekiel 18:23) The following part of that verse says, “God desires for them to repent.” If the wicked doesn’t repent, God intervenes with force so that the writer of Hebrews says, “It is a fearful thing to come under the judgment of the Living God” (Hebrews 10:31) Indeed, God has done it before in the days of Israel and Judah, sending pagan nations such as Assyria and Babylon to humble them. But He also punished these nations when they were cruel and excessive in the victory that God gave them.
As we consider the confusion that is happening in our world, it is easy to be caught in political conundrums dressed ostensibly in moral clothing. To decide on whether or not a thing is “right” or “wrong” is not a matter of opinion but of God who gave us the Law of the Conscience. One wrong does not make another wrong correct. One right does not make all the wrongs justifiable. A regime is judged when it contravenes the laws of God. A leader is judged when he stands before the judgment seat of the Living God. The decision we must make is to be vigilant, waiting for God to act and waiting for the opportunity to be the voice of God in a darkened generation. As the hymn writer from long ago reminds us as he meditated on Jesus’ parable of the ten virgins, we must always keep the lamps of our heart “all trimmed and bright.” I know there are many believers who prayed that God would stop Khamenei in his evil policies, but the means by which God stops him are up to God alone. We still grieve over a soul taken from earth and destined for the Lake of Fire. And along with him, many souls have been snuffed out to awaken to a Christless eternity. This is the attitude by which we seize every opportunity to turn people from eternal destruction, as Jude says, “Have mercy on those who doubt; save others by snatching them out of the fire; to others show mercy with fear, hating even the garment stained by the flesh” (Jude 1:22-23). May we do so “with our lamps all trimmed and bright.”
