“If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land.” (2nd Chronicles 7:14)
We must never forget. How can any of us forget the early hours of that fateful Tuesday morning, September 11, 2001, now so long ago? Many of us had poured our morning cup of coffee and turned on the television just to watch the morning news. And then we watched as our world was shaken. We stared in disbelief as the events of the morning unfolded. How could this even happen? How could this be so well orchestrated, yet no one even knew. How could this happen in our Country, with our sophisticated intelligence? It was as if we were watching a horror movie as we witnessed airplanes crashing into the World Trade Center Towers, watching the towers topple, a diverted tragedy in Pennsylvania, and a thwarted attempt to harm thousands of people in the Pentagon in our Nation’s Capital. Air travel was immediately dispelled and our skies were quiet for the first time in our history, as we awaited some word that would help us to make sense of it all. But that word wouldn’t come for a long, long time, even now nine years later.
We watched as our nation was under attack before our eyes. It was no longer a real Russian threat or finally the work of the communists under our beds, but the work of an unknown group of terrorists who called themselves al-Qaida. Nine years ago most Americans couldn’t place Iraq or Iran on a map, let alone understand their differences. I remember singing Alan Jackson’s song that spoke for many of us “Where Were You When the World Stopped Turning?” His refrain; “I’m just a singer of simple songs - I’m not a real political man. I watch CNN but I’m not sure I can tell you the difference in Iraq and Iran. But I know Jesus and I talk to God and I remember this from when I was young. Faith hope and love are some good things he gave us, and the greatest of these is love.”
And I remember nine years ago as the day’s events unfolded, our nation’s leaders gathered on the steps of our Capital, joined hands and sang “God bless America” together. We must never forget.
Was it really nine years ago when we as a nation turned to God when everything else made no sense? Was it nine years ago when our churches saw visitors for the first time seeking answers only God could provide? Was it really nine years ago when we sifted through rubble and buried over 3,000 people, people from all walks of life. Was it really nine years ago when our world changed before our very eyes, and we became “One Nation Under God” once again.
The United States of America was founded upon Christian principles. Look closely at our early American leaders and see where they put their trust. Godly men and women who relied on their faith, through Jesus Christ to mold us into the nation we are today. We became a new nation because of religious persecution. We declared our independence from Great Britain because the King was the authority instead of God. Read the words of George Washington when he sent a letter to each state’s Governor;
"I now make it my earnest prayer, that God would have you and the State over which you preside, in his holy protection, that he would incline the hearts of the Citizens to cultivate a spirit of subordination and obedience to Government--to entertain a brotherly affection and love for one another, for their fellow Citizens of the United States at large, and particularly for their Brethren who have served in the Field, and finally, that he would most graciously be pleased to dispose us all, to do Justice, to love Mercy, and to demean ourselves with that Charity, Humility, and temper of mind which were the Characteristics of the Divine Author of our blessed Religion, and without an humble imitation of whose example in these things, we can never hope to be a Happy Nation."
Read the words of John Hancock, or Samuel Adams, Patrick Henry or Alexander Hamilton. Read the words of Thomas Jefferson when he wrote in his personal Bible; "I am a real Christian, that is to say, a disciple of the doctrines of Jesus. I have little doubt that our whole country will soon be rallied to the unity of our creator."
We must never forget. We are a nation founded upon Christian values. We are a nation that has opened its boarders to millions of people over the years so they may enjoy the freedoms our Country provides. We are a Nation made up of people from all walks of life.
We must never forget we are still “One Nation Under God.”
When I think back on the horrors of what we now call 9/11, I am reminded once again how fragile life is. I am reminded that the United States of America is an enemy to some, a refuge to others and a Nation where people should always be treated with respect and above all tolerance, that is until tolerance becomes dangerous.
We are a Nation founded on Christian principles and values. And in our tolerance and respect of others, we must not lose sight of our roots. Yes, while we are “One Nation Under God” we must not forget that our Nation’s God is Jesus Christ. I believe it is more important now than ever before to fill our Nation’s Capital with Godly people who will be tolerant of others, to respect differences, yet not compromise their own beliefs. On Friday, in a speech to the people of America, President Obama offered these words; “At a time when the country is anxious generally, and going through a tough time, then, you know fears can surface – suspicions, divisions can surface in a society. We have to make sure we don’t start turning on each other. We are One Nation Under God. And then our President said; “And we may call that God different names, but we remain one nation.”
Really? Why are we so afraid to stand fast on our principles, yet still be tolerant of others without compromise? We are “One Nation Under God” founded upon the Bible, the Word of God. One Nation, One God. It is time for us to embrace this, to look forward to the future and not be ashamed of how our country was founded.
There is recent concern over the Mosque to be built at Ground Zero. And I can only imagine there was tremendous concern when the “Dome of the Rock” was built on the Temple Mount in Jerusalem 1500 years ago. And today there is much concern over a pastor of a small church in Florida who idiotically wants to burn the Quran. Please? There will always be differences - age, race, background and beliefs. But we are One Nation, Under God, with tolerance to love people unconditionally as Christ has done for us.
Have we learned a lesson from September 11th, now so long ago? You decide. There was another time, and another place where terrorism was rampant. A great fire broke out and this entire city was engulfed in flames. Hundreds of public buildings were burned to the ground, hundreds of acres were blackened in the city, and thousands of homes were destroyed, so that there were thousands of the inhabitants of the city left homeless. The month was July; the year was 64 AD, just over 30 years since the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus Christ. The burning city was none other than Rome itself. History has concluded that the Emperor Nero set that fire in order that he might destroy the ramshackle buildings of Rome and give him room to erect some marble palaces and other monuments that he thought would establish his name in history. It was during this time, of course, that the story was born that Nero fiddled while Rome burned, but it has since been conclusively proved that the violin was not invented at that time. What he played is hard to tell, but it is pretty clear from some of the contemporary historians that the Emperor was seen looking over the city and enjoying the view while it was burning. There are some who claim that when the fire was put out in one part of the city, suddenly and mysteriously it was lit again, so the historians of that day seem to be almost unanimous in concluding that Nero did burn down the city. The Roman citizens were incensed; they were ready to revolt and overthrow him, so Nero quickly looked around for a scapegoat that he could blame for the fire. There was in Rome a group of people who were just in the right situation to lend themselves to take the blame for the fire. They were called Christians, and they followed a man named Christ. And the vicious Emperor Nero started the rumor around Rome that these Christians had burned down the city.
There were many people who refused to believe that, but there were some who did, and in order to enforce it the Emperor began a very serious series of persecutions against the Christians. It was during this time that Christians were burned as torches to light the gardens of Nero when he threw an outdoor party. They were tied to his chariot and dragged through the streets of Rome until they were dead. They were thrown to the lions; they were sought after and faced horrible persecution daily. Now it was during this time of severe persecution when the Apostle Peter wrote his wonderful letter we know as 1 Peter. He wrote this letter to encourage his fellow believers wherever they were, whatever difficulties they were enduring.
At the end of this letter, Peter says he wrote it from Babylon. There are some who say he meant the literal Babylon on the Euphrates River, but most scholars agree that he was using the term, a code if you will, that was common amongst the Christians of that century to refer to Rome, because all of the idolatry and evil of Babylon had now been transferred to the capital of the Roman Empire.
According to Ray Stedman, this is one of the letters of the New Testament especially helpful to anybody who is going through any kind of difficulty. If you are facing the problem of suffering of any kind, I would urge you to read First Peter. If you are wondering what God is doing in the world of our day and what is going to happen in the face of all the tensions and pressures and possibilities of terror that await us in the future, this is an excellent letter to read because it was written to Christians under similar circumstances.
Peter begins with the greatest fact in the life of any Christian, his relationship to Jesus Christ with the new birth. Peter says: “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! By his great mercy we have been born anew and have been given a living hope.”
In the face of persecution, in the face of craziness in our world today, in the face of anything that can potentially be harmful, we all have hope through Christ Jesus. He is the Way, the Truth and the Life and no one comes to the Father except through Him. That is the greatest thing that ever happens to anyone. Amen
