Melvin M. Newland, Minister Central Christian, Brownsville, TX
ILL. One year ago this week the skies of New York, Washington, D.C. & Pennsylvania were punctured by hijacked airplanes in a diabolical plot to pierce the soul of our nation. One year ago our sense of security was shattered as planes became missiles, buildings became piles of rubble, thousands of lives were lost, millions of hearts broken – the handiwork of 19 men who killed in the name of their religion.
Terrible images have been etched forever into our memories: of planes crashing into towers, of 110-story buildings turning into fiery furnaces & collapsing in an all-encompassing cloud of ashes & dust, of men & women falling to their deaths, of people running for their lives even as hundreds of firefighters & police officers were losing their lives in attempting to save more.
ILL. One year ago we received a wake-up call from the pits of Hell. Listen to what Steve Malone wrote a few days later: “We have all been wandering around in a haze, in a daze for 6 days now. Like the clouds of smoke, soot & debris that blanketed lower Manhattan – a dark cloud has blanketed the heart & soul of nearly every American. … We feel helpless, we’re confused, we’re angry, we’re numb…
“How could we be so vulnerable? How do we fight against ‘shadows?’ How do we ever step into an airplane or a skyscraper again? How do we ever feel safe again? How do we make our children feel safe again?” (See footnote)
Suddenly realizing how very fragile & precious life truly is, for a little while at least, as a nation we hugged our kids & grandchildren a little tighter, & told our spouses of our love for them even more fervently than before.
And our nation prayed. Simple, heart-felt prayers echoed not only in churches, but on street corners, in public buildings, &, yes, even in some schools. Members of Congress gathered for prayer in the very hall where, a few weeks before, police had threatened to arrest a group of young people for bowing their heads in silent prayer.
As a nation we stood united in prayer to Almighty God, & we sang “God Bless America” with a fervency that startled us. People turned to God & to His Holy Word for comfort & guidance, & were unashamed of that. And His words echoed & re-echoed through our land. For example, Psalm 25:1-3.
“To you, O Lord, I Lift my soul; in you I trust, O my God. Do not let me be put to shame, nor let my enemies triumph over me. No one whose hope is in you will ever be put to shame, but they will be put to shame who are treacherous without excuse.”
Also Psalm 27:1-2, “The Lord is my light & my salvation – whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life – of whom shall I be afraid? When evil men advance against me to devour my flesh, when my enemies & my foes attack me, they will stumble & fall.”
At such a time we knew that we needed God - not a feel-good type of God. But the unmovable, unshakable God – the God who was & is & forever shall be - all present, all knowing & all powerful – King of Kings & Lord of Lords. As a nation we knew we needed the Lord God Almighty – And we still do!
ILL. Last year, when our President stood before the Joint Session of Congress & addressed the nation about our national resolve, his words met with near unanimous approval & acclaim. And the leaders of Congress pledged their unswerving loyalty to his leadership in doing whatever had to be done to protect the people of our nation & to defeat those who would seek to harm us.
Now a year has passed by, & much of our national unity, emotion, & commitment has melted away. Just like the people of Israel in the days of old, we seem to forget so quickly the promises that we have made to one another & to our God. In the political world it seems to be “politics as usual.” And it has been months now since I’ve heard anyone singing “God Bless America.” Its message is fading away.
However, as you well know, this week we are remembering again the events of 9/11. We’ll hear tales of astounding bravery & sacrifice, & honor those who gave their lives that others might live. We’ll meet some of their families, & hear the testimony of survivors. And our nation will pause to remember & to reflect.
PROP. I’m glad that we’re doing this, but I’m concerned, also. I’m concerned that as a nation we’ll hear the speeches, pay our respects, bow our heads, enjoy the music, & then return to business as usual – our lives unchanged, & God once again relegated to the back shelf. How can we keep that from happening in our lives? What can we do?
I. DETERMINE OUR PRIORITIES
First of all, we need to determine our priorities, to remember what matters most in life. You see, what really matters is not the size of our investment portfolio, the square footage of our house, the job that we have, or the make of our car.
Do you remember what Jesus said? He said, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart & with all your soul & with all your mind. This is the first & greatest commandment. And the second is like it: Love your neighbor as yourself.” (Matthew 22:37-39) According to Jesus, what matters most is loving God & loving people.
During this past year we have heard stories of people on the hijacked airplanes & in the World Trade Center making last minute phone calls because they knew that they were down to the final minutes of their earthly life – they knew they were about to die. Wives called husbands, husbands called wives, children called parents to say “Goodbye.” And many of them added, “I’ll see you in heaven.”
Why did they do that? Because in those final moments they realized that it wasn’t their career, their possessions or money that mattered – it was their faith in God, & their love for the people that God had placed in their lives.
Now what is important in your life? What really matters to you? It’s time to recommit ourselves to spiritual values, & to quality relationships with those you love.
II. PUT OUR TRUST IN GOD
Secondly, we must put our trust in God. Psalm 20:7 says, “Some trust in chariots, & some in horses, but we trust in the name of the Lord our God. They are brought to their knees & fall, but we rise up & stand firm.” Or, as another version puts it, “They are overwhelmed & defeated, but we march forward & win.”
We must resist the temptation to put our trust anywhere but in God. The twin towers were among the most expensive buildings on earth, & they contained millions & millions of dollars in furniture & equipment. Yet, we saw in the most dramatic way how in mere minutes the things of earth can come crashing down. And all that remained was a tangle of debris.
I’d like to summarize something Jesus said in the Sermon on the Mount: “Do not put your trust in things on earth, where moth & rust destroy & where thieves break in & steal, but put your trust in God.”
Let me ask you, “Where have you placed your trust?” A better question – “Have you put your trust in God?” Or, “Will you?”
The Bible says, “Those who trust in the Lord are like Mount Zion, which cannot be shaken but endures forever. As the mountains surround Jerusalem, so the Lord surrounds His people both now & forevermore.” (Psalms 125:1-2) That’s what I want! Do you?
III. BE GOD’S LIGHT IN THE WORLD TODAY
A. Thirdly, remember to be God’s light in the world today. Jesus said: “You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp & put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, & it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds & praise your Father in heaven.” (Matthew 5:14-16)
And in following Jesus, the apostle Paul wrote, “Do all you have to do without grumbling or arguing, so that you may be God’s children, blameless, sincere & wholesome, living in a warped & diseased world, & shining there like lights in a dark place. For you hold in your hands the very word of life.” (Philippians 2:14-16 Phillips)
There is a world still living in darkness that needs to see that light on a hill, that needs to hear the word of life - people who need to hear that they can be born again into a living hope & into an inheritance that can never spoil, fade or pass away.
ILL. Folks, for nearly a year now we have been so bombarded by the hateful rhetoric & imagery of fanatic Islam that we fail to realize that the fanatics are just a fraction of the Islamic world. We have heard their cries of “Jihad” & been warned that their goal is our total destruction. And 9/11 seems to bear that out.
We have also been told that the Islamic world is closed to the gospel of Christ, & that any efforts to witness in His name brings about the penalty of death. And in some places that is true.
But did you realize that more Mohammedans are becoming Christians now than possibly ever before? At a time when fanatics are devoting themselves to the destruction of Christians, many Mohammedans are discovering for the very first time the contrast between the teachings of Mohammed & those of Christ.
They see the difference in the way women are treated, & read with amazement that our God is a God of love – that He commands us to “love one another” even as He has loved us - & also to “Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you.” (Luke 6:27-28)
The latest issue of the magazine “Voice of the Martyrs” tells of Mohammedan women begging for Bibles, of secret Bible study meetings, & of entire families becoming Christians despite the danger of their decisions. They have chosen to follow the Prince of peace & love rather than the god of war.
Listen, I’m convinced that we’re on the threshold of the greatest opportunity of our lifetime to let the light of Christ shine into the dark places of our world.
B. Paul, in the Scripture we read a few minutes ago, talked about being a light in this dark world, & he concluded with these words; “But even if my life is to be poured out like a drink offering to complete the sacrifice… I will rejoice….” (Philippians 2:17)
Paul was saying that if he had to die in order to save others – he would gladly make that sacrifice for them. And that’s exactly what he did.
ILL. One year ago, Thomas Burnett & Todd Beamer were among the hostages on United flight #93 flying over Pennsylvania. Burnett, a 38-year-old executive with a California research company, called his wife & said, “I know we’re all going to die – but there are 3 of us who are going to do something about it.” And that’s when Todd Beamer said, “Let’s roll!”
Jesus said, “Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends.” Now let me ask you, “If they gave their lives in order to save others when they knew they were going to die – how much more should we be willing to lay down our lives to save people when we know we are going to live?”
Even as thousands of workers from around the world dug 24 hours a day, rain or shine - digging through the rubble trying to find anyone who might still be alive - should we not be just as willing to wade through he rubble of sin & the debris of shattered lives in order to save someone too?
INVITATION:
(Some quotes and ideas in this sermon came from an excellent sermon by Steve Malone, “In God We Trust,” found on SermonCentral.com)
