What Christ Offers
Selected Passages
September 8th, 2002
9/11 Remembrance Service
Introduction
One year ago the clear skies of New York, Washington D.C. and rural Pennsylvania were pierced by hijacked airplanes and a diabolical plan to pierce the soul of our nation. One year ago we woke up from our dreaming and found ourselves living in a nightmare. One year ago we watched as planes become missiles, icons were reduced piles of rubble, lives were lost and hearts were broken. One year ago we watched as our false security was shattered and millions were drawn back to God in masses only to leave Him once the crisis was over.
One year ago, we realized how very fragile life truly is and we were given a reminder of the things that mattered. We hugged our kids and grandchildren a little tighter. We told our spouses that we loved them a little more often. We prayed to God with a little more sincerity. We were given a wake up call from the pits of Hell only to allow Satan to lull us back to sleep.
Life is not the same as it was on September 12th because we are more like we were on September 10th. We have forgotten the lives that were lost on that dreadful day and we have forgotten the lives of those who have been forever changed. We have forgotten the widows who are raising children alone. We have forgotten the parents who will never hold their children again. We have forgotten the heroism shown by ordinary people who rose to the occasion in extraordinary ways. This morning I want to raise fresh awareness in your hearts and minds of our nations deepest wounds and remind you of our only hope for healing.
On September 11th, nearly 3,000 people lost their lives at the World
Trade Center, the Pentagon and in rural fields in Pennsylvania. It was the most devastating attack ever to happen on American soil, carried out by 19 cowards who killed in the name of religion.
In times like these, what does Christ have to offer those who are hurting? What does Christ have to offer to those who are still shaken? What does Christ have to offer to those who still have nagging doubts lingering in their minds? What does Christ have to offer our nation?
I. Christ offers us His Companionship
And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age. Matthew 28:20
Christ has offered to be your companion through all of life. He is with you during the good days and the bad days of life. He stays with you when the seas of life give smooth sailing and He is with you when the waters are rough and skies stormy. He is there when we seek Him and He is there when you don’t seek Him.
Christ never leaves you, ever. He never has and He never will. He is with you 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year, every year that you walk this earth. Christ is always there when you need Him and always ready to help you through life.
This Truth is brilliantly captured in the following poem.
Footprints in the sand
One night I had a dream. I was walking along the beach with the Lord, and across the skies flashed scenes of my life. In each scene I noticed two sets of footprints in the sand. One was mine, and one was the Lord’s. When the last scene of my life appeared before me, I looked back at the footprints in the sand, and to my surprise I noticed that many times along the path of my life there was only one set of footprints, and I noticed that it was at the lowest and saddest times in my life. I asked the Lord about it: "Lord you said that once I decided to follow you, you would walk with me all the way. But I notice that during the most troublesome times in my life there is only one set of footprints. I don’t understand why you left my side when I needed you most." The Lord said: "My precious child, I never left you during your time of trial. Where you see only one set of footprints, I was carrying you." Anonymous
I remember a time when we were at the store and Abigail decided to play a trick on me. She hid herself in the middle of a rack of clothes and for just a moment she seemed to vanish. In that moment, I began to panic because I thought that I had lost her. Then she peeked out from behind the clothes and said “boo.” Even though she tried she couldn’t lose me because I was determined that I was going to stay with her.
Christ has offered to walk with you in life. He remains with you even when we turn away from Him. He stays with us even when we stray from what we know is right. He is with us even when we don’t deserve it. Christ never loses you, even when you try to lose Him.
II. Christ offers us His Compassion
33 When Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who had come along with her also weeping, he was deeply moved in spirit and troubled. 34 "Where have you laid him?" he asked. "Come and see, Lord," they replied. 35 Jesus wept. 36 Then the Jews said, "See how he loved him!" John 11:33-36
Christ has offered to give you His compassion. He understands the reality of pain and grief first hand. He has experienced what it is like to lose a friend or a loved one. He has felt the emptiness of loss and the sorrow associated with death. Christ watched as the pain of Mary and Martha bared itself after Lazarus had died. He saw the reality of grief and He understood it. Just as Jesus stood there with Mary and Martha in their time of pain, so he stands with you and every other person in our nation.
When we weep Jesus weeps with us. As pilots and stewardesses were brutally murdered to gain control of those planes; Jesus wept. As planes plunged into buildings; Jesus wept. As final phone calls were being made and final words were being spoken; Jesus wept. As towers tumbled and buildings burned; Jesus wept. As heroes made the ultimate sacrifice to save others; Jesus wept. As a nation mourned and grieved; Jesus wept.
In your times of need Christ is there to give you His compassion.
III. Christ offers us His Comfort
Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God. For just as the sufferings of Christ flow over into our lives, so also through Christ our comfort overflows. 2 Corinthians 1:3-5
Christ wants to give you comfort. He loves you with an eternal love that will never die. Christ is here and now ready to stand by your side. The presence of Christ brings peace to the troubled, hope to the hopeless and strength to the weak.
The Greek word for comfort literally means “to come alongside and help.” Comfort does not remove our difficulties or our sufferings but it does bring us strength, encouragement and hope to deal with our difficulties. Paul makes it clear to the Corinthians and to us that when we go through hard times, Christ comes by our side and helps us.
Life is unpredictable. We have no idea what tomorrow holds but we do know who holds tomorrow. Christ stood by your side as you watched planes strike those buildings. Christ stood by your side as you watched towers fall. Christ stands by your side, no matter what the day brings and offers you help, healing and hope.
Conclusion
What Hope does for Mankind
Hope shines brightest when the hour is darkest.
Hope motivates when discouragement comes.
Hope energizes when the body is tired.
Hope sweetens while bitterness bites.
Hope sings when all melodies are gone.
Hope believes when evidence is eliminated.
Hope listens for answers when no one is talking.
Hope climbs over obstacles when no one is helping.
Hope endures hardship when no one is caring.
Hope smiles confidently when no one is laughing.
Hope reaches for answers when no one is asking.
Hope presses toward victory when no one is encouraging.
Hope dares to give when no one is sharing.
Hope brings the victory when no one is winning.
- John Maxwell from Think on These Things
So where is our hope?
Our hope comes from an eternal person
Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever
Our hope comes from an eternal promise
I will never leave you or forsake you
Our hope comes from an eternal plan
For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only son so whoever believes in Him might not perish but have everlasting life.
Our hope comes from an eternal perspective
Now we know that if the earthly tent we live in is destroyed, we have a building from God, an eternal house in heaven, not built by human hands. 2 Corinthians 5:1
