Remembering 9/11 - Ten Years Later

I will never forget that day. I was driving in my car to go to the office when news cut in on the radio that a plane had apparently flown into one of the WTC towers. By the time I got to the office, no one on the radio news had even speculated that it was a purposeful, terroristic act. I somehow mustered up the ability to go ahead and start getting work done in the office. At some point, I encountered our church secretary. Diane told me both towers had been hit. We went into her office where she and one of our volunteers named Floyd had plugged in a radio. We listened in shock and horror of what was unfolding in our nation. We decided we needed to find a TV. But first, we paused and prayed together in that office. After finding some old bunny ears to put on a TV set, we were able to get local news coverage. And you know the rest of the story. What a horrific, tragic day. We decided to hold a spontaneous prayer meeting in our church that night, and the attendance was great. We just simply shared and prayed. It was a microcosm of the effect 9/11 had all over our country. Strangers would talk to strangers and express their fear, hurt, and even anger over the events. People went to church for the first time in years, and old Bibles were dusted off. We'll never be the same. But I hope we will never be the same, FOR THE GOOD! The old routine is back. Oh we will break it tomorrow as we attend remembrance services to commemorate the 10-year anniversary. But have many folks slipped away from the patriotism or worse, the faith and prayerfulness, that they experienced 10 years ago? Maybe so. I love 1 Peter 4:19. It says, "So then, those who suffer according to God's will should commit themselves to their faithful Creator and continue to do good." The context of this verse is a word to Christians who were being severely persecuted for their faith. Peter was urging them to keep the faith in the midst of that suffering and to continue to do good and be committed to their FAITHFUL God. God is faithful, isn't He? Some reached out to Him for the first time 10 years ago. Some still failed to acknowledge Him and find strength in Him. Some thought more of Him for a while, but have since slipped back into their routine of self-sufficiency. How about you? Did you hold His hand tighter on that day 10 years ago? How tightly are you holding it now? God is faithful, even in the midst of the actions of evil-doers and the suffering of the innocent. He is still there, reaching out His hand to those who would find their hope, peace, and strength in Him. Take hold of it, and don't let go. Our world is a lot different than it was 10 years ago. And if the Lord tarries His coming, we have no clue what the world will be like for the next 10. But this I know, if my life is in the hands of my faithful Creator, I have no reason to fear. Through triumph or tragedy, God is faithful.