A Day to Remember

Many teenagers today have no recall of the events of 9/11 when the Trade Towers fell. There was a vow made by many not to forget, but I wonder, have forgotten already? Are we in a better place now to stop a similar attack if it happened? Do we thank God for the brave men and women that ran into the building to rescue people, even after they saw the one building collapse. I think about how many people are living in our country that we have no idea who they are. We want to be welcoming as a nation, but we are losing our identity, as many people have not taken classes to become citizens. What are we meant to remember? ... those that died? Yes. I think of greater importance is remembering that we, as a nation, are partially responsible. Because of our ideology? Not really. Every nation has differing ways of thinking. Then what? We need to remember that if we don’t have Jesus, we have nothing. A great nation without Jesus is just a momentary happiness that will end far worse than the Trade Center collapse. If we cease to be one nation under God, I fear that we will be one nation that has gone under. Remembering those that lost their lives shows great compassion, but remembering our failure to trust God is of much greater benefit because that has eternal consequences. As I remember the lives that were lost, a very haunting concept fills my mind and heart... how many of those that died had a living faith in Jesus? In other words, how many entered God’s kingdom of glory and how many didn’t make it. This isn’t a judgement. On any given day, there are hundreds that will be found guilty and condemned to hell. I heard a girl recently that had lost a brother due to a violent attack. At the funeral, a minister of the Word told her, “Don’t let his death be in vain!” Don’t spend your days looking back and reliving the event over and over again. At the funeral, use this moment to encourage people to be prepared. As she was given a platform with the media, she had the opportunity to plant seeds of hope for a world filled with the love of Jesus. She had an opportunity impact the lives of others. With 9/11, we also have such an opportunity. As people speak of the events of that day, don’t let their deaths be in vain. Proclaim the true hope - Jesus. Father, it grieves me to think of all the lives lost through ungodly acts. Stir in us the ability and passion to prepare the world for You. Amen