We Will Not Forget

Do you remember where you were on September 11, 2001 when the World Trade Center was attacked? I remember watching in disbelief as the second tower was impaled by an airplane and then as both towers incinerated before my eyes crumbling to the ground in a pile of ash. I remember being horrified at the thought of how many people who were instantly incinerated. I remember being shocked at watching people jumping to their death from 40 stories. I remember the fear on the faces of American citizens running down the streets of New York to escape the ominous cloud of ash that engulfed them. I remember the pentagon being hit and then the report of flight 93 that went down in Pennsylvania. In the same way that my grandfather remembers the bombing of Pearl Harbor as a "day that will live in infamy" so I will remember 911 as a day that will live in infamy. In a series of terrorist acts over 3,000 Americans and some visitors from other countries lost their lives...souls ushered into eternity without warning. As the ash cloud cleared two steel girders that remained standing but badly damaged formed a cross--a symbol of hope. Following the attacks there was a serious surge in spiritual interest. The frailty of our humanity and our vulnerability was exposed and people turned to God. At least for a while. It was, as we now know, a fleeting fit of spiritual interest. Sadly, our country did not experience widespread repentance and returning to reliance upon God. People initially went to church looking for answers but many did not stick around long enough to hear. Twelve years later the sorrow of that day is remembered. The countless lives, the fathers, mothers, children, parents, separated from the ones they love is deeply moving. I hope that we will pause to pray for the people who lost their loved ones, to appreciate our public servants who risk their lives each day to keep us safe, to thank the numerous federal, state, county, and local workers who have been on duty since then to safeguard us. I also hope that we will take time to ask, "And what of America Now?" Are we only going to pat ourselves on the back for the advancements we've made in technology to keep us safe, or on the wonderful monuments to the people who lost their lives? And there is nothing wrong with a certain degree of appreciation for those things. But what of our SOUL? Have we taken stock in the direction our country is headed? Have we sobered up enough to realize our own frailty and depravity? It seems to me that we have a great responsibility to inform people of how they can be prepared to die, be prepared to move into eternity at any moment because our future is as uncertain as it was on 911. Oh we may have better preparedness against a terrorist attack in some areas, but our demise may not be from a terrorist. We have the life-changing message of salvation by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone that is the only real preparation for entering eternity joyfully. Lord, help us to point people to You--"Come to me all you who are weary and heavy laden and I will give you rest" (Mt.11:28). Jesus said, "I am the way, the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through me" (Jn.14:6). May we remember that death is not something to fear, but something to prepare for. If trust Christ's death as the payment for our sins then we can truly be forgiven and have the promise of eternal life. For all of the families of the survivors we pray for Comfort. For all of the survivors we pray for Conversion.