Today marks the 11th anniversary of a day that fundamentally changed America again. Every generation has at least one day in which something so dramatic happens that is defines that generation. In 1940’s it was December 7th in which Pearl Harbor was attacked and subsequently drew the United States into World War II. The 1960’s saw the Civil Rights struggle, Dr. King’s “I Have A Dream Speech”, the assassination of JFK, and other events. My generation has September 11th. It is easy to ask “why” when tragedy strikes, but I believe the better question is what is God up to? As Christians we know and say we believe that God is in control. And for the most part we are ok with Him being in control as long as things are going ok in our life and difficult times come to others. We want to question why a loving God would allow nearly 3,000 people to perish in one day. We cannot say in one breath, “Lord I give You control of my life” and in the next breath question how He decides to control our life. I cannot imagine what those families experienced that day or have experienced since then, and I pray that I never have to experience that deep of loss. However, as a Christian I must ask God to help give me perspective and ask, God what are you up to?
As a result of September 11th, 2001 many people came to a saving faith in Jesus Christ. More than our happiness or our comfort, Jesus desires that the world place their faith in Him. 2 Peter 3:8-9 tells why Jesus has not returned for His church yet when it says, “But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.” Notice God is not on our time, but rather we are on His. The reason He hasn’t returned is because He is waiting on more people to place their faith in Him, because He desires they would repent of their sin of rejecting Him and turn to Him in faith. Because of the horrific events of September 11th, many people did come to a saving faith in Jesus Christ. His word says that is what He desires, and if as a child of God I pray the way Jesus taught us to pray “Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven” then I cannot question the means in which He accomplishes His will, but I must trust that it was right because Genesis 18:25 reminds us, “That be far from thee to do after this manner, to slay the righteous with the wicked: and that the righteous should be as the wicked, that be far from thee: Shall not the Judge of all the earth do right?”
I am no suggesting that it is easy to deal with days like December 7, 1941 or September 11, 2001. In our finite minds this just doesn’t make sense, but then again Isaiah 55:8-9 reminds us that not everything in this world is going to make sense. We must simply trust that God knows what He is doing and what He is doing is in our best interest. It didn’t make sense for someone who never sinned to die on a cross for all those who had sinned, but God did it in our best interest, and He continues to do things that are in our best interest!
By His grace and through His strength may we live for Him!