In Memory Of

Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted. – Matthew 5:4 (NIV)

Today is the anniversary of 9/11.  I hesitate to say anniversary as that has a connotation of happiness, which is the antithesis of what I am feeling today.  I dread 9/11, simply because the montage of images is forever etched in my mind.  People ask, “What possible good could God have had in mind to allow such things to happen?”  My answer is simply, I don’t know.  God does allow bad things to happen.  Perhaps God was showing us that yes, there is evil in the world; an unspeakable horror. After all, 9/11 allowed us to look directly into the face of evil.  It could be that He wanted us to know that without a moral code, people can do really horrible things to others.  Maybe He was showing us that free will abounds.  We can exercise it but human judgment is erred without divine guidance.   

I do know that all things, whether good or evil, are used for God’s glory.  So where’s the glory in over 3000 lives being lost in one day?  Well, there were rescuers and people on the streets, helping those that were wounded. They worked tirelessly to rescue those that were trapped. They reached out to their fellow man, without thinking of the potential consequences that lie ahead such as lung diseases that would develop years later.   Let’s think about the brave men and women on the flight that crashed in Pennsylvania.  Rather than allow more people to be killed, they chose to sacrifice their lives to save others.  As a nation, we rose up and took a stand against evil.  That’s powerful.

Looking at the images that day made many realize we are not guaranteed an hour.  We are not guaranteed a minute.  We are guaranteed a life worth living; and we should live it to the fullest!  And yes, we need to have faith; faith in a Father who loves us more than we can imagine.  Faith in a Son who sacrificed so much in order that all future generations could live a life filled with hope.  And a Holy Spirit that guides our moral code and decision making.

So on this day, let’s not just remember the tragedy that took place but the hope.  Hope that our fellow man is willing to help others by reaching out in times of distress.  Hope that our God is alive and well.  Hope that we have a future due to the sacrifice by the men and women who have served in the post 9/11 armed services.  Most of all, we have hope because of God.  He is there no matter what – He is in the midst of it all.  He is sovereign and offers us the greatest hope of all; eternal life.

So as we look to the heavens tonight and think about those who lost their lives so tragically twelve years ago, think about all He has done and all He is capable of doing.  He is there to comfort those who mourn.  Allow Him to do so, as we continue to grieve the loss of our fellow man.