It was just another day. I remember getting up and going into work like any other day. I worked for a local collection agency and a good portion of our business was done on the east coast. I walked into our building and immediately a co-worker says “they attacked the Twin Towers, they think it’s Bin Laden”. Bin Laden? That was the first time I had ever heard that name.
In an instant our lives can change. On September 11, 2001 our lives changed. 3000 dead, 3000 families directly impacted and countless individuals in-directly impacted. The way we travel has changed, the way security in America is handled has changed and the way we view people has changed. Wow…
I wish I could say that this tragedy made us stronger as a God-fearing nation. But the truth is it really hasn’t. Right at first everyone was open to prayer and the term “god” was thrown around in places that normally we would never hear it. But today it’s business as usual. America continues to fight to remove God from our schools, government builds and government agencies.
How is it that even people who aren’t really followers of Jesus Christ turn to him in times of need, but forget him as soon as things get better? This is not a new practice. In days of old the Israelites would turn to God in desperate times but go back to their wicked ways after he would deliver them;
10 After that generation died, another generation grew up who did not acknowledge the Lord or remember the mighty things he had done for Israel. 11 The Israelites did evil in the Lord’s sight and served the images of Baal. Judges 2:10-11 (NLT)
You see, like the Israelites we Americans don’t learn from our past. Did you know that the original school text-book in America was the Bible? You probably didn’t know that because you were never taught that. I’m not saying that we can stop crazy people from doing crazy things. I’m just saying that we never know when disaster will strike, so we need to be prepared for it.
We can’t always prepare physically for tragedy. I mean, no one was prepared for 911. But spiritually we can always be ready and we owe it to our children and our children’s children to train them up in the ways of the Lord.
The bible says;
“And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” Romans 8:28
Believe it or not there has been good that has come from 911. We have watched a nation rally to re-build a city, we have seen and heard testimonies of great selflessness and acts of courage. And many of the families have turned their lives to Jesus Christ. You see, no matter what, God will get the best out of the worst.
As for us who do believe, all we can do is be the hands and feet of God, ready to be used to show the world his love, grace and mercy.
Let’s choose not only to remember our past, but to learn from it.
Are you ready?