9.11 ... A Day of Terror ... and HOPE
It’s hardly seems possible that September 11, 2001 – 9.11 – was just eight years ago. That was a day that rocked our world and tumbled our lives upside down. A friend just emailed me and reminded me that on that day I had gone around to all the classrooms at Our Savior to announce what had happened / what was happening, to talk with the teachers and children, and to pray. That day will never be forgotten. Reflecting on that day my friend wrote in his email: “Those incidents created incredible uncertainty that I don't think has gone away, but just been reshaped.”
The events of 9.11, indelibly emblazoned on our minds, certainly created a storm of discouragement and doubt in our country. Our immediate safety, long-term security, and contentment as citizens in this country were mightily challenged and called into question. I would agree with my friend. I don’t think those feelings of 9.11.01 have gone away. They’ve just been reshaped.
Where can we turn to gain any certainty in life? Where can we go in any storm or adverse circumstance of life to find true peace, strength to cope, and lasting hope? Or is that no longer a possibility?
We must turn to the Word of God.
An incident is recorded in Acts 27 and 28 that gives helpful insight. A storm was raging. The wind was blowing. The rain was pouring down. In spite of the best efforts of the crew, the boat was being battered and beaten by the storm. And the morale of all 276 people on board sank to an all time low. The Bible says in verse 20 of everyone on board that, "When neither sun nor stars appeared for many days and the storm continued raging, we finally gave up all hope of being saved."
They had given up all hope. WOW!
OK. So where was God? Where was God when that storm was raging? Where was God on 9.11? Where is God in the storms you are facing now?
God is right there with us, even when we walk through the valley of the shadow of death. He shares His presence in and through His Word.
Interesting that right in the middle of the storm recorded in Acts 27 and 28 God gives a sure word of comfort. A word of HOPE! Keep reading …
Acts 27: 21 After the men had gone a long time without food, Paul stood up before them and said: “Men, you should have taken my advice not to sail from Crete; then you would have spared yourselves this damage and loss. 22 But now I urge you to keep up your courage, because not one of you will be lost; only the ship will be destroyed. 23 Last night an angel of the God whose I am and whom I serve stood beside me 24 and said, ‘Do not be afraid, Paul. You must stand trial before Caesar; and God has graciously given you the lives of all who sail with you.’ 25 So keep up your courage, men, for I have faith in God that it will happen just as he told me. 26 Nevertheless, we must run aground on some island.”
Everything did not clear up at once. The storm did not immediately stop and the ship was not magically transported to a sun-drenched island where umbrella drinks were waiting for passengers and crew. No. Something better was given: HOPE.
We may not have an angel come and speak to us BUT we have a more sure Word given to us in the Holy Scriptures. Listen to our God speaking through Isaiah in Isaiah 41:10: So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. Read and listen to God speak to you again in Isaiah 43:2: When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze. Well we should remember Psalm 34:17 and 18 in our most difficult times: The righteous cry out, and the LORD hears them; He delivers them from all their troubles. The LORD is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.
Paul Harvey includes in almost everyone of his broadcast, “And now, for the rest of the story.” The rest of this story is found at the end of Acts 27 and beginning of Acts 28. The ship did make it to the island of Malta, where, although shattered to pieces by the waves, everyone made it to shore safely. Paul was able to minister to a people way on the other side of the Mediterranean Sea who had never heard the message or experienced the power of believing in Jesus crucified and risen. For the next three months Paul shared the message of this new life. During that time he also met the chief official of the island, Publius, and was able to heal his father.
Interesting, isn’t it. If it weren’t for the storm and the shipwreck, the people on the island of Malta might never have had a chance to experience the power of Jesus Christ. Although it appears that many have reshaped their feelings and gone back to “life as usual”, certainly many had the opportunity on 9.11 and in the days and weeks that followed, to go to Bible believing, Bible proclaiming churches and hear the only message of sure HOPE. We may not always remember it at the time, but like Paul, we can have faith that in all things God will work for the good of those who love Him.
May we continue to be encouraged, especially in the troubled times in which we live, by the words of a shipwrecked, spared, Apostle Paul: If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all – how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things? … Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? … No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Romans 8:31, 32, 35, 37-39)
In the midst of terror and all the other storms of life ... hold fast to our only sure HOPE, Jesus and the rock solid foundation of God’s Word!