Not that you needed reminding, but Sunday is the 10th anniversary of the tragic events that took place on Tuesday, September 11, 2001.
Across the USA and around the world, memorials will be held, many prayers said and tears shed. For the past several weeks, the media has drawn our collective attention to those tragic events. We’ve watched special tributes on television and read newspaper accounts of lives forever changed by the events of that day. So comprehensive and wide-spread was the tragedy of that day, that it soon became clear the events were of such global magnitude that they would be referred to as simply... “9/11” and everyone the world over would know.
The world changed that day. The world is a more dangerous place. The USA and the world entered a new phase of crisis. Terrorism took on new meaning and form and wicked people continue to find ways to inject pain and suffering into the human experience. The world faced uncertainty after September 11th and not much has changed ten years later. We’ve adapted and learned to live in “crisis” a feeling that will likely not end without Divine intervention.
Is there any comfort to be found? Is there any formula for lasting peace and security? God’s Word says much about times of crisis. In fact, the New Testament was written during a period of world crisis. Jesus lived in a period of uncertainty. He preached in a world prone to hatred and violence. His Church was born facing an adversarial culture in a world that was violent, dangerous and without compassion. The message of Christ... the Gospel and the inspired writings of the New Testament brought comfort to the early Christians who faced some terrible experiences. God’s Word is still powerful... it can bring comfort to those searching for answers in today’s violent and dangerous world.
The Bible points to a time when tragedies like 9/11 will be no more. It’s a message God wants every human to hear. It’s hard to imagine a world without pain and suffering and evil, but it’s in our future. It’s coming... it’s a real trustworthy promise of our Lord and Savior... our God. Here’s what he says about a future when life will be very different...
Then I saw “a new heaven and a new earth” for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea. I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. ‘He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death’ or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.” Revelation 21:1-4
No more terrorism. No more violence... no more evil and wickedness... no more death... no more sadness... no more tears and sorrow.
Who wouldn’t want to live in a world like that? I would think everyone would long for such peace and security. Just imagine what your life could be like in such a world. Is it beyond our ability to imagine the goodness and joy that will surely abound for all humanity who earnestly take hold of such a magnificent promise? Is it just a fantasy? When you look across the world today with all its problems, it can seem a bit far-fetched. Remember... God made this promise. He has never failed to deliver on every single promise made to humankind. He allowed His own Son, Jesus the Messiah to willingly endure the cross and death to validate and authenticate every promise He has ever made.
Christians, followers of Christ, firmly hold this promise of God and look eagerly forward to the time when it becomes our living reality. In a world consumed by hate, violence and death, Christians have an opportunity to bring a message of hope and life to the world.
The tragic events of 9/11 have marked our generation forever, just as Pearl Harbor marked a previous generation. My hope is that Christians will see this Sunday’s memorial of the 10th anniversary of 9/11 as a new beginning, a time for renewal and commitment to sharing our faith in the eternal promises of God with family, friends and even adversaries. As Christians, we have the privilege to preach and teach the truths of eternal peace as only found in the promises of God. We can encourage, edify and strengthen fellow believers to take on the issues of life in an uncertain world.
Every year that passes... a new generation comes along. Young adults, teenagers and even our youngest children, need to be encouraged to hang on firmly to the anchor that Christ represents in their lives. The responsibility of preparing our families for hard times, won’t be getting any easier as our evil world continues its journey to prophetic destiny.
So we Christians have a message of hope, of peace and everlasting security the world needs to hear. It must be declared boldly and loudly, so that the hope found in Christ overshadows the messages of doom and despair. The hope for today, for tomorrow and for all eternity is found in Jesus Christ.
In this time of remembrance, I close this special 9/11 Renovations message with the prayer that Max Lucado wrote for America Prays, a national prayer vigil that was held on Saturday, September 14, 2001:
"Dear Lord, We're still hoping we'll wake up. We're still hoping we'll open a sleepy eye and think, 'What a horrible dream.'
"But we won't, will we, Father? What we saw was not a dream. Planes did gouge towers. Flames did consume our fortress. People did perish. It was no dream; and, dear Father, we are sad.
"There is a ballet dancer who will no longer dance and a doctor who will no longer heal. A church has lost its priest, a classroom is minus a teacher. Cora ran a food pantry. Paige was a counselor; and Dana, dearest Father, Dana was only 3 years old. (Who held her in those final moments?)
"We are sad, Father. For as the innocent are buried; our innocence is buried, as well. We thought we were safe. Perhaps we should have known better, but we didn't.
"So we come to You. We don't ask You for help; we beg You for it. We don't request it; we implore it. We know what You can do. We've read the accounts. We've pondered the stories; and now we plead, 'Do it again, Lord. Do it again.'
"Remember Joseph? You rescued him from the pit. You can do the same for us. Do it again, Lord. Remember the Hebrews in Egypt? You protected their children from the angel of death. We have children, too, Lord. Do it again.
"And Sarah? Remember her prayers? You heard them. Joshua? Remember his fears? You inspired him. The women at the tomb? You resurrected their hope. The doubts of Thomas? You took them away. Do it again, Lord. Do it again.
"You changed Daniel from a captive into a king's counselor. You took Peter the fisherman and made him Peter an apostle. Because of you, David went from leading sheep to leading armies. Do it again, Lord, for we need counselors today, Lord. We need apostles. We need leaders. Do it again, dear Lord.
"Most of all, do again what you did at Calvary. What we saw here on that Tuesday, You saw there on that Friday. Innocence slaughtered. Goodness murdered. Mothers weeping. Evil dancing. Just as the ash fell on our children, the darkness fell on your Son. Just as our towers were shattered, the very Tower of Eternity was pierced. By dusk, heaven's sweetest song was silent, buried behind a rock.
"But You did not waver, O Lord. You did not waver. After three days in a dark hole, You rolled the rock and rumbled the earth and turned the darkest Friday into the brightest Sunday. Do it again, Lord. Grant us a September Easter.
"We thank You, dear Father, for these hours of unity. Disaster has done what discussion could not. Doctrinal fences have fallen. Republicans are standing with Democrats. Skin colors have been covered by the ash of burning buildings. We thank You for these hours of unity.
"We thank You for these hours of prayer. The enemy sought to bring us to our knees and succeeded. He had no idea, however, that we would kneel before You; and he has no idea what You can do.
"Let Your mercy be upon our president, vice president, and their families. Grant to those who lead us wisdom beyond their years and experience. Have mercy upon the souls who have departed and the wounded who remain. Give us grace that we might forgive and faith that we might believe.
"And look kindly upon your Church. For 2,000 years You've used it to heal a hurting world. Do it again, Lord. Do it again.
"Through Christ, Amen."
