Twenty-five years have now passed since that terrible morning of September 11, 2001 when our nation was shattered by acts of terrorism, seemingly unspeakable evil. I was watching the news when it was first reported that a plane had somehow flown off course and crashed into one of the buildings at the World Trade Center in New York. My mind immediately went back to the time Brenda and I visited the towers and enjoyed some food at the “Window of the World” restaurant atop Tower 1, which occupied floors 106 and 107.
Then, suddenly another plane appeared slamming directly into Tower 2! At that moment, it became painfully obvious to me that this was no accident, but a carefully planned, deliberate attack by our nation’s enemies against our America! Later that afternoon, as the towers crumbled and collapsed, we opened the doors of our main worship area at WOF for anyone who need a place to come weep and pray. As I recall, we kept those doors open around the clock, 24/7, for many days after that startling event, offering sanctuary for prayer and refuge to our surrounding community and church family.
This Friday, many individuals will gather to commemorate this solemn anniversary, remembering the nearly three thousand souls that perished, along with those courageous first responders who ran straight towards the danger to save others! Let us pause to humbly consider and make prayerful intercession for all the families whose lives were forever altered on that day … for those children who grew up without a parent, and for the numerous spouses who unexpectedly and suddenly found themselves walking the lonely road of widowhood!
The Biblical Psalmist obviously understood and knew something of national upheavals and deep anguish when he wrote Psalm 46:1-3,
“God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth should change and though the mountains slip into the heart of the sea; though its waters roar and foam, though the mountains quake at its swelling pride. Selah.”
In our grief and remembrance, we are invited to bring our deepest pain before the Lord. He sees our troubled spirits, knows full-well all of our feelings, as well as the emotions that come with the memories of this day in history. Yet, in His steadfast faithfulness, He will never abandon us to the depths of our own anguish.
We live in a world marked by real evil … evil that is not abstract or theoretical, but concrete and absolutely devastating when it raises its wicked head and shows its face! The attacks of 9/11 clearly reveal the depths of humanity’s depraved nature and the capacity of human hearts — to harbor hatred and to inflict suffering on whomever it chooses for whatever reason or sinful justification it may embrace! As believers in Christ Jesus, we do not minimize or ignore this reality, nor pretend that faith makes us somehow immune to, or exempt from, tragedy (as may be viewed from our perspective). Undoubtedly, in reality, we are all fragile people living in a broken world! Yet the Psalmist does not call us to despair over, or deny the weakness and frailty of our humanity. Rather, he reminds us of the fact that our apparent vulnerability in this pagan world and in this flesh, is never the final word. God’s strength is never weakened by any human element of wickedness or evil, no matter how powerful it may appear! His presence is not withdrawn or diminished when evil, wickedness, despair, fear, or darkness strikes. He is the “very present help” (literally in the Hebrew text, abundantly and immediately available to help) “in trouble!” (Yes, that’s in all circumstances and any kind / type of distress.)
In this truth, we cling to His comfort as faithful followers of Christ Jesus. Hardship and suffering will come in this life, but when trials and difficulties arise, we are not … and will never be … left alone out there in the world on our own. (See John 14:18, Matthew 28:20)
As Psalm 145:18 declares,
“The Lord is near to all who call upon Him, to all who call upon Him in truth.”
and according to Psalm 34:18, He is “near the broken hearted” and “saves” or “rescues” those whose spirits have been crushed!
As you may recount, in the aftermath of 9/11, we all witnessed extraordinary acts of courage, sacrifice, and compassion. Firefighters, police officers, and others laid down their lives. Strangers helped strangers. Communities came together across lines that worked to divide, uniting as one people to serve and pray. As we commemorate this anniversary, perhaps we should reconsider and renew our commitment to the values that emerged in those darkest hours: caring for the vulnerable, standing with those who grieve, recognizing the sacred image of human life God designed, and the value God Almighty has placed upon each and every person. Even as difficult as it is in a divided world, and within the complexity of our society and culture, “love your neighbor as yourself” (Matthew 22:39) remains. This is not some sentimental expression, but the Gospel of our Lord — lived out! When we serve the suffering and comfort the bereaved, we are, in reality, serving Jesus Christ Himself. (See Matthew 25:34-40)
The path forward requires more than our remembrances; it demands our honesty, spiritual integrity, and sincere prayers. As we examine our own hearts, do we find the same hatred and dehumanization that the terrorists demonstrated against our nation taking root in us? At times, I certainly do, but must yield to a higher calling, asking for wisdom and discernment in a complex world, and for mental and emotional protection against fear that attempts to harden my heart against a group of people that Christ Himself died for, just like He did for me! Therefore, let us truly intercede for those who still carry the forever wounds of that dreadful day—physical, emotional, and spiritual. In addition, we must uphold our nation in prayer, that we might be a people marked by the living TRUTH of GOD’S WORD … from Micah 6:8 –
“He has told you, O man, what is good; And what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?”
Then consider Zechariah 8:16-17,
“These are the things which you should do: ‘speak the truth to one another; judge with truth and judgment for peace in your gates. Also let none of you devise evil in your heart against another, and do not love perjury; for all these are what I hate,’ declares the Lord.”
As this Friday arrives, we do not despair; but with hope firmly rooted in Christ Jesus — we call upon the mighty and powerful name of our Lord to instill comfort. He is the Lord God of all comfort! (2 Corinthians 1:3-4) He who walked with us on that terrible September 11th morning twenty-five years ago is also just as present with us today. He has not abandoned this world to evil; instead, He commissions us to be agents of His peace, witnesses of His Truth and faithfulness, sharing His love and truth to a hurting, depraved, broken, and confused world.
As Believers, our hope does not rest in the absence of suffering … knowing full well … that will not come in this life. However, it abides in the presence of a Lord who fully understands suffering, who bore our griefs, endured the consequences of sinful humanity (rejection, unlawful torture and execution upon a cross), nonetheless, conquered sin and death for humanity through a victorious resurrection! He also promises to usher in a glorious day when He will forever wipe away every tear and make all things new. Until that day comes, we remember, we grieve, we serve, we pray, we trust, and we live this life in the flesh by faith in the Son of God who loves us and gave Himself up for us! (from Galatians 2:20)
This is our calling. This is our hope.
His & Yours, because of GRACE (God’s Riches At Christ’s Expense)
Pastor Frank
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