2 Corinthians 4:7-18
But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us. [8] We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; [9] persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed. [10] We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body. [11] For we who are alive are always being given over to death for Jesus’ sake, so that his life may be revealed in our mortal body. [12] So then, death is at work in us, but life is at work in you.
[13] It is written: "I believed; therefore I have spoken." With that same spirit of faith we also believe and therefore speak, [14] because we know that the one who raised the Lord Jesus from the dead will also raise us with Jesus and present us with you in his presence. [15] All this is for your benefit, so that the grace that is reaching more and more people may cause thanksgiving to overflow to the glory of God.
[16] Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. [17] For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. [18] So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.
Philip. 4:6-7
Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. [7] And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
The latest Time Magazine says, “It was the bloodiest day on American soil since our Civil War, a modern day “Pearl Harbor and Antitam” played out in real time, on fast-forward, and not with soldiers but with secretaries, security guards, lawyers, bankers, janitors, policemen, and firemen. It was strange that a day of war was a day we stood still. We couldn’t move--that must have been the whole idea--so we had no choice but to watch. Every city cataloged its targets; residents looked at their skylines, wondering if they would be different in the morning. The Sears Tower in Chicago was evacuated, as were colleges and museums. Disney World shut down, and Major League Baseball canceled its games, and nuclear power plants went to top security status; the Hoover Dam and the Mall of Georgia shut down, and Independence Hall in Philadelphia, and Mount Rushmore. It was as though someone had taken a huge brush and painted a bull’s-eye around every place Americans gather, every icon we revere, every service we depend on, and vowed to take them out or shut them down, or force us to do it ourselves.
Time Magazine said, “Terror works like a musical composition, so many instruments, all in tune, playing perfectly together to create their desired effect. Sorrow and horror, and fear. The first plane is just to get our attention. Then, once we are transfixed, the second plane comes and repeats the theme until the blinding coda of smoke and debris crumbles on top of the rescue workers who have gone in to try to save anyone who survived the opening movements. And we watch, speechless, as the sirens, like some awful choir, hour after hour let you know that it is not over yet, wait, there’s more.”
It was, of course, a perfect day, 70[degrees] and flawless skies, perfect for a nervous pilot who has stolen a huge jet and intends to turn it into a missile.
1. A CHRONOLOGY OF THE MAJOR EVENTS OF 9.1.1. (SEPT. 11, 2001)
(See Chronology)
Maybe you were as shocked as I was on Tuesday, September 11, 2001. A flat tire for me that morning on the way to our church staff meeting was nothing compared to the horror, grief, and heartache of literally thousands of people who went to work never expecting what they encountered and faced. My slight afflictions are nothing compared to the burden and grief that many carry this morning and will carry for many days to come as a result of the terrorist attacks this week.
2. A CHRONICLE WE NEED TO REMEMBER!
2 Chron. 7:14
If my people, which are called by my name, shall 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.
3. A PROMISE WE MUST CHERISH!
2 Cor. 4:7-18
But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us. [8] We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; [9] persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed. [10] We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body. [11] For we who are alive are always being given over to death for Jesus’ sake, so that his life may be revealed in our mortal body. [12] So then, death is at work in us, but life is at work in you.
[13] It is written: "I believed; therefore I have spoken." With that same spirit of faith we also believe and therefore speak, [14] because we know that the one who raised the Lord Jesus from the dead will also raise us with Jesus and present us with you in his presence. [15] All this is for your benefit, so that the grace that is reaching more and more people may cause thanksgiving to overflow to the glory of God.
[16] Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. [17] For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. [18] So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.
Romans 8:28
And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.
4. LESSONS WE LEARN FROM 9.1.1:
A. No one is ever too young or too old to take God seriously and obey Him.
2 Kings 22:1-2
Josiah was eight years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem thirty-one years. His mother’s name was Jedidah daughter of Adaiah; she was from Bozkath. [2] He did what was right in the eyes of the Lord and walked in all the ways of his father David, not turning aside to the right or to the left.
B. When God’s Word is lost, forgotten and not respected, nations and people become corrupt and lose their moral values.
Isaiah 5:21
Woe to those who are wise in their own eyes
and clever in their own sight.
Judges 21:25
In those days there was no king in Israel: every man did that which was right in his own eyes.
C. We learn that what we often place our confidence and trust in, is only temporary.
Psalm 20:7
Some trust in chariots, and some in horses: but we will remember the name of the Lord our God.
BY NANCY GIBBS Wednesday, Sep. 12, 2001 Time Magazine
“If you want to humble an empire it makes sense to maim its cathedrals. They are symbols of its faith, and when they crumple and burn, it tells us we are not so powerful and we can’t be safe. The Twin Towers of the World Trade Center, planted at the base of Manhattan island with the Statue of Liberty as their sentry, and the Pentagon, a squat, concrete fort on the banks of the Potomac, are the sanctuaries of money and power that our enemies may imagine define us. But that assumes our faith rests on what we can buy and build, and that has never been America’s true God.”
I’m not sure I agree with that! For years, we have made Wall Street our security blanket. For so long, we have looked at houses, cars, and lands and said, “Take it easy . . . You’ll retire in style.”
The only place to find security, true and lasting, eternal security, is in God. Not in work, for work is only good for as long as we have it. Not to family and friends for they, too, pass away. Not to the things we have because they, too, are fleeting. Everything we turn to for security can be taken from us, except our God. We turn only to God for our security, and it is God who covers, comforts and
secures us all.
We hear God’s words of promise “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you. (Hebrews 13:6b)” Where should we find our security blanket? Where should we find that which will make us feel safe? In God alone. We are covered by His love, comforted by His presence and secured in the knowledge that "Those who know Your name will trust in You, for You, LORD, have never forsaken those who seek You. (Ps 56:3)" It is our God who covers us with His love, as the Psalmist states, "I will say of the LORD, "He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust. Surely He will save you from the fowler’s snare and from the deadly pestilence. He will cover you with His feathers, and under His wings you will find refuge; His faithfulness will be your shield and rampart. (Psalm 91:2 - 4)"
It is our God, Jesus Christ, who takes us all into His loving embrace and covers us with His love, a love that not only took Him to the cross for us, but a love that brings Him to be with us now and always. That is Christ’s promise of comfort, He says, "I am with you always, to the very end of the age. (Matthew 28:20)" Amen.
Terrorists may shake the tallest buildings in NYC, but they will never shake our faith in God who is our rock and shield; a very present help in time of trouble.
Terrorists may seek to undermine and rip apart the foundations of the World Trade Centers and Pentagon, but they need to remember that as Christians we have a much firmer foundation:
2 Tim. 2:19
Nevertheless, God’s solid foundation stands firm, sealed with this inscription: "The Lord knows those who are his," and, "Everyone who confesses the name of the Lord must turn away from wickedness."
Terrorists may seek to rip out the heart of all Americans, but we know as Christians that Jesus tells us to take heart and expect such things. But He also says,
John 14:1-3
Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. [2] In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. [3] And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.
Terrorists may use force to get their way, but I know that one day “He will have His way” for He says: “Every knee shall bow and every tongue confess that HE is LORD!”
Let us go on record to say:
We may be hard pressed, but we are not crushed. Pillars and steel may crush the earthly body, but they will never crush the united Spirit of America and the hope within us. We may be perplexed and have many unanswered questions, but we will not despair because we know that this world is not our home, we are just passing through.
We know all of this because there is a life within us if we are Christians that cannot be snuffed out by terrorists, rooted out by threats nor blasted out by powerful bombs or weapons used for destruction. Our hope goes beyond this present world with all of its wonders and beauties. Our foundation goes so much deeper than what we can see with our own eyes and feel with our own hands and hear with our own ears.
We are looking for something else – yes our hearts may be filled with grief, our eyes swollen from all the tears shed, but we are looking – we are lifting our eyes heavenward like Abraham of old:
Hebrews 11:10
For he was looking forward to the city with foundations, whose architect and builder is God.
We will move forward in holy fear like Noah, protecting our families and seeing them saved:
Hebrews 11:7
By faith Noah, when warned about things not yet seen, in holy fear built an ark to save his family. By his faith he condemned the world and became heir of the righteousness that comes by faith.
We will live like Enoch, pleasing God so that there is no question about what we have done and where we are going.
Hebrews 11:5
By faith Enoch was taken from this life, so that he did not experience death; he could not be found, because God had taken him away. For before he was taken, he was commended as one who pleased God.
We will not live in fear of the terrorist but move on. While grief-stricken and stunned for awhile, we are commanded to “look forward” like Abraham did:
Hebrews 11:10
For he was looking forward to the city with foundations, whose architect and builder is God.
My hope is built on nothing less,
Than Jesus’ blood and righteousness,
I dare not trust the sweetest frame,
But wholly lean on Jesus’ name.
On Christ the solid rock I stand,
All other ground is sinking sand
All other ground is sinking sand.
D. We learn a lesson about being prepared! We learn about the brevity and uncertainty of life.
Jesus Himself reminds us over and over to be ready – for in such an hour as you think not, the Son of Man comes . . . What is heart-wrenching are the stories of people trapped this week in the World Trade Center who made phone calls saying, “I love you” and saying, “I don’t think I will make it.”
E. We learn a lesson that tells us that there is a difference between fun and fantasy and real life. WE need to understand the difference between the games of life and real life itself. We must come to grips with our relationships with family and friends. We must endeavor to see beyond the petty differences and small infractions and value each other in our homes, our church, and our world. We need to understand that none of us can control our own lives. We need to take more time to walk together, talk together, and say things with depth and meaning. We need to be become more serious about the eternal welfare of our families as much and more as we do about about “who wins the game.” We need to be more serious about our relationship with God and make sure that “our house is set in order.” We must take deliberate steps to love and appreciate all those around us regardless of race, color of skin, social status, and what part of the world they are from.
WE must depend on God more and less on ourselves and what we own. We have grown to trust in ourselves and own abilities. We have trusted in the mighty dollar, and the pursuit of more dollars. We have become a nation demanding instant pleasure and gratification. We have become complacent in the true gifts of God.
Our freedoms are being taken right before our own eyes. The gifts that God has given are being stolen right out in the open. All of the gifts that the deceased on 9.1.1. Had taken for granted daily had been radically abused. Their sight was covered by debris, smoke, and flames. Their sense of smell was no longer filled with the morning breakfast, but with burnt debris and flesh. Their sense of feel was not of their spouse’s gentle touch or the hug of a child or even the keys of their computer. Their sense of taste was no longer the first cup of coffee, but of fumes. Their sense of hearing was no longer of their child’s giggles or the “I love you” of a loved one, but of deafening roars, gasps of horror, explosions, and sirens.
This is a time to repent. It is a time to come back to God and fall on our knees and acknowledge God, but far more, experience Him in everyday living. If we truly say we are “One Nation Under God” and print so freely on our coins, “In God We Trust”, don’t you think that the lessons of 9.1.1. tells us to act on it? May God help us and may God bless America!
These are hard lessons to learn and maybe we already have learned them. It could be that we just needed to be reminded of them!
Psalm 18:2
The Lord is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer;
my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge.
He is my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.
Proverbs 18:10
The name of the Lord is a strong tower;
the righteous run to it and are safe.
