Remembering September 11, 2001

Life is a precious gift from God. Let us remember all of those precious people who went to work in the early morning hours on this day twelve years ago who likely had little idea that within hours they would be standing before their Creator. There may not be a tomorrow for any of us. Let us therefore seek to love and live for Christ and others today while we yet live.

James 4:13-14 Come now, you who say, "Today or tomorrow we will go to such and such a city, spend a year there, buy and sell, and make a profit"; [14] whereas you do not know what will happen tomorrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away.

Take the time to thank God for your life while you yet live. And make today a day of repentance and humility before God's throne of grace. Make today the day you wear yourself out in prayer and in love for others - especially the ones in your own house. Be the hands and feet of Christ to others. Turn a conversation to spiritual things. Turn a trivial topic to the most important topic, the state of your eternal soul.

Every day, people of all ages are unexpectedly taken from this world. God has told none of us when that day will be for us. How could anyone in those towers, on United flight 93, or in the Pentagon 12 years ago have known the calamity that would be coming upon them? How many of them were reconciled to God? How many of them had finally come face to face with the depth of their own sin and were introduced to the Savior? How many of them died forgiven and justified, and how many of them died unforgiven and condemned before God?

And let us remember how the Lord Jesus looked at and interpreted such disasters:

Luke 13:1-5 There were present at that season some who told Him about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices. [2] And Jesus answered and said to them, "Do you suppose that these Galileans were worse sinners than all other Galileans, because they suffered such things? [3] I tell you, no; but unless you repent you will all likewise perish. [4] Or those eighteen on whom the tower in Siloam fell and killed them, do you think that they were worse sinners than all other men who dwelt in Jerusalem? [5] I tell you, no; but unless you repent you will all likewise perish."

There is nothing greater and no greater joy than to know that your sins were nailed to the cross of Jesus Christ and that you bear the guilt of them no more. For you who know the Lord Jesus, rejoice in Him today - knowing that if God calls you from this life, the best is yet to come. And remember those all around you who have no such hope. Pray for them. Witness to them. There may not be a tomorrow for them.